#have you ever been TOO TALL to set of automatic door sensors
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DEPRAC automatic doors my worst enemy
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Distance Makes the Heart Grow
CHAPTER 5.5
Series Masterlist
Pairing: Mafia Boss!Neville Longbottom x Reader
Pronouns: She/Her
Word Count: 2.7k
Summary: (Y/n) lives a normal life. But that’s the issue, it’s normal, it’s plain, and it’s growing boring. Everyday she wishes for something, anything to spice up her life. But, when her old school friend (and crush) shows up at her bakery with a new look (and what looks like a new life), what will it bring for her? Will their puppy love grow? Will his big secret lead to the end of them or will it spark a new beginning?
Warnings: wizards experiencing muggle items, one line about sexual temptation, illegal bribery
A/N: LMAO WHY IS THE HALF CHAPTER LONGER THAN CHAPTER 5 PLS THIS IS SO EMBARASSING
(Y/n) rubbed the sleep from her eyes, still tired despite going through her entire morning routine. Although she was exhausted, she also felt an extreme burst of excitement. Although she grew up wealthy for a small portion of her life, her parents had never liked to travel. They much preferred sticking to themselves and associating with other pure bloods. The furthest they had ever traveled was from their main home to their summer home and even then the two weren’t that far from one another. She nuzzled into Neville’s neck further, tightening her grasp around him as he carried her down the stairs.
When they got to the landing, he brought them to the main living room where everyone was waiting. She heard a familiar squeal causing her eyes to snap open just in time to see a camera flash.
“Sorry you guys are just so cute together! Plus who knew you were this adorable when you’re sleepy?” Twyla said, cooing as she walked over and pinching the girl’s cheek. She grumbled, smacking her hand away as she buried her head back in Neville’s neck.
“Twyla? What are you doing here? You’re coming too?” she asked, watching as the girl nodded, jumping in excitement. Her (e/c) eyes narrowed as she peeked at her. “Really? I also suspect that you requested this time off?” the blonde scratched the back of her neck, backing away from the girl slowly.
“Listen, (Y/n), baby, dear boss of mine. Permission to have time off in order to go to Italy?” she pleaded, flashing her a sickly sweet smile.
“Request denied.” she replied almost instantaneously. She giggled some at the girl’s reaction, trying to keep the straight face she had going on. But she couldn’t, Twyla’s over dramatic scene she was causing was far too funny. “I’m only kidding Twy, there’s no one I’d rather spend time in a new country with. Well, maybe there is.” Neville squeezed at her thighs, lifting her up higher at the announcement. He went to tease her before Harrison cleared his throat, standing on a stool so the mass of people could see him.
“Alright well I’ve got some news.” he started but was cut short.
“Good or bad?” the twins said in unison, glaring at each other for having the same thought.
“Well, it’s news. Because there’s so many of us, it’d be a bit strange for us to use floo powder. It’d cause way too much attention which would already have people quite suspicious about our visit.” he said, clasping his hands together. “Which means we’ll be using muggle transportation.” The main eight chimed up, all their speech lapping over each other. Twyla whistled, causing them all to stop speaking. “Thank you. Now if there’s any questions, please ask them one at a time.”
“How the hell are we gonna drive to Italy?! Can cars go in the water?” Seamus blurted out, causing everyone in the room to give him a disappointed look. Ron smacked the back of his head, letting out a troubled sigh.
“Whoever said there was no such thing as a dumb question must’ve never met you, Finnegan.” Harrison said in a fake sweet tone. “We’re going by plane which means we’ll need to go through the muggle airport.” Neville cleared his throat, causing everyone to turn their attention to him.
“And what about our guns? Weapons? Correct me if I’m wrong, but those can’t be taken through airport security.” he said, everyone else to make noises of agreement. The bearded man sucked on his teeth, releasing a soft breath.
“Well, we’re all smart, capable people. Plus you know muggles, money talks with them. Shouldn’t be too hard to get ourselves through with our weapons intact.” he said, causing everyone to go into thought about what they’d do to evade security. “Any more questions?”
“Yeah, how long are we going to be there for? I sorta have a job.” Twyla said. (Y/n) rolled her eyes, squinting them at the back of the girl’s head which caused a small jolt of electricity to shock her. She let out a yelp, glaring knowingly at the girl. “I know that was you!”
“Alright if there’s no more questions, let’s get to the airport!”
---------------------------------
As they got out of the car, (Y/n) looked around in awe. The airport had to be one of the busiest places she’d ever been, and she attended Hogwarts. Many different tunnels, windows, and levels all stacked as high as her sight could reach. The worst part of it all was the abundance of people, especially with them being muggles. It wasn’t that she disliked them, it was more so she feared them. She constantly felt anxious like they could see right through her and would call her out on the spot. As she felt her breath get shallow, she ran up to Neville clinging to his arm as they walked. He looked down at her smiling before intertwining their fingers.
She gasped as the door walked open automatically as they went through, eyes growing wide. Neville heard the noise looking down at her. She gave him a confused look. “I thought you said there was no magic here?” she said, confused by how the doors were doing that. He chuckled some, pecking the top of her head.
“There isn’t. It’s all muggle technology. If you think that’s cool, I’m curious what your reaction to the plane will be.”
(Y/n) kept close to the tall man’s side, ignoring the weird looks they were receiving. She couldn’t blame them. Her and Neville were complete opposites. It was as if they both climbed out of two separate books and had formed a new one which in a way, they had. Everyone continued to follow Harrison, watching as he slid a large numbered bill to the man. He moved out of the way, letting them skip the line before they got to the metal detectors. (Y/n) began to sweat nervously knowing that every single man with her right now was fully armed and loaded.
“I’ve got this, don’t worry mini boss!” Seamus said, walking up to the front of the line. Neville groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. He cleared his throat as he stepped up to the short man in the uniform. The man crossed his arms, glaring up at him. “Hello…” he trailed off, looking at the nametag on the man, “Alfredo! Listen, why don’t you be a champ and let us by?” he said, handing the man a few 20s. However, he didn’t budge.
“You think I’m going to let you through for 40 bucks?” he snapped. “I happen to take my job as an airport security member very seriously. I’d have half the mind to call the cops on you right now for not wanting to follow the mandatory metal detector procedure.” At this point the girl was shaking. Blaise rolled his eyes, walking up to the man. He gave him a charismatic smirk. Grabbing the man’s hand he placed a kiss on his knuckles.
“Alfredo, right?” he asked, watching as the boy nodded along in a trance. “Charmed. I’m Blaise Zabini. Listen, I know my friend here insulted your character and you seem like a very nice, good boy,” he purred, staring into his eyes intently. Whipping out his wallet he pulled out four hundred dollar bills tucking them into the boy’s front pocket, leaving his hand to linger there. “So why don’t you let us through, yeah? And maybe when I come back you can give me a call.” The boy stumbled behind the machine, looking both ways before turning off the sensors. They all began to quickly file through before anyone would notice. Blaise being the last one threw the man a wink before catching up with his friends.
“That’s not fair! Blaise has pretty privilege!” Seamus whined, causing Fred to snort.
“Perhaps you should invest in some then. You seemed like you could use it back there.” he said, snickering as George joined in. Draco even gave a few chuckles before covering it with a cough.
(Y/n) looked around the airport, still curious about everything. Sure Hogwarts had a few moving floors and stairs that moved but these were..different? Maybe they were some more of that muggle technology Neville had mentioned earlier.
“You see that?” the boss said, pointing to a set of the moving stairs. She nodded, continuing to eye them curiously. “Those are called escalators. You stand on them and they move. We’re about to get on one in a second!” she gulped at that but nodded.
“U-um, will you hold my hand on it? It’s kinda scary..” she asked, jumping in surprise as he wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her into his chest, embracing her tightly.
“God, you're so precious. Of course I’ll hold your hand.” he reached his hand out, grabbing her smaller one in his large one. As they neared it, she found she wasn’t as nervous as she had been previously. Especially not with the twins running up the wrong side, screaming at each other in confusion about why they weren’t moving anywhere.
“They seem to be out of order!” George said, continuing to run up them. Ron turned around glaring at his pathetic older brothers.
“They’re not broken, you’re just on the wrong side, idiots! Why do you think we got on this one?” he yelled to them, watching as they froze. As they reached the landing again they ran up the correct side, giving Ron a smack on the back of the head as they passed him.
“Oh you know, for flavor!”
As they neared the terminal, her eyes began to sparkle with curiosity. Even though the majority of it was covered by the window panes, she could see bits of the different planes in between.
“Alright for most of you, this is your spot. The boarding should be beginning soon so keep an ear peeled.” Harrison said. The extra men that had come with the nodded before making their way to the long line. They looked very out of place compared to everyone else in line. Although some had disguised themselves in Hawaiian shirts, a lot of them still adorned their usual attire of all black suits. (Y/n) went to join them but was pulled back, the tattooed man giving her a look.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“To get on the plane? I thought we were taking one?” she said, a lost look on her face. He smiled at her, dragging her along.
“Oh we are, we’re just taking one of our own.” he said, a smug look present on his face. She went to ask him what he meant but stopped as they made it to a private section of the airport, walking straight through a terminal with no line.
“Woah! This is yours, Nev?” she asked, running around the interior. It was larger than she thought it’d be. There were a few couches inside along with a few cushioned chairs. Tables were embedded into the ground, stationed around the various seats.
“Yep! All mine, petal. Only the best for you, pretty girl.” Her heart began to race at the name, looking back at him with a smile.
“Geez, he really is Mr.Moneybags! This thing is loaded, bigger than any plane I’ve ever been on.” Twyla chimed, throwing herself onto one of the couches with a sigh. Draco took a seat beside her, lifting her legs into his lap.
“I have one too, you know.” he said, causing her to jerk up. Giving him a teasing smile, she pinched his cheek lovingly.
“Aww! Dray’s so cute when he’s jealous! C’mere!” she said, lunging forward onto the man as she covered his face in kisses. (Y/n) giggled some letting out a small scream as a pair of arms pulled her back. Neville nuzzled his nose into her neck before littering kisses all over her face.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist. You look so cute when you’re excited.” she smiled at his words, hiding her face in his chest. She still had yet to ask him about the room situation. There was only 2 hours till they were set to land so if she wanted to get it out, she had better do it soon.
“Hey Nev? I-I-I was wondering i-if you wanted to maybe..maybe um...share a room together?” Neville froze at the words, the movement of his hands ceasing. Had she really just said what he thought she had? So many thoughts were running through his head, some less savory than others. “I just thought it would be nice. I know you’ll probably be busy during the day so I-I’d enjoy being able to be with you at night. N-not like that! I just-”
“Of course, baby. I’d love to.” he said, turning her around so he could place a kiss on her lips. Before he could begin to deepen it, a childish chorus of ooo’s echoed across the plane. He pulled away, rolling his eyes as he pulled out his gun. “I’m not above using this. I don’t care how high we are.”
--------------------
An hour into the flight, things had really taken off. During the small duration of time, many blunts had been rolled, meals had been eaten, and alcohol had been consumed. (Y/n) found herself looking out the window, admiring the way the clouds flew by them seemingly weightless. Her attention was pulled away from the sound of a glass breaking along with a loud thud. Seamus was on the ground, his shirt tied around his shoulders like a cape.
“I don’t think I can drink another round. You two win.” he said, commending the twins for their effort. They exchanged a look before beginning to cackle.
“We were drinking water the whole time! Do you really think we’d drink 14 shots a piece?! Man, what a moron you are, Finnegan.” Fred said, wiping the tears of laughter from his eyes. George nodded along, slapping his knee in amusement.
“Right before we have to scope out the place too? Boss isn’t gonna be too happy with you.” he said in a sing-song voice. (Y/n) couldn’t help but feel bad for the boy. She knew what it was like to go and mess things up before something important. Lifting her purse, she began sifting through it carefully, stopping once she found what she had been looking for. Walking over to the boy she handed him a small potion vile.
“Here, drink this. I always give this to Twyla when she shows up black out at my house. It should sober you up in a few minutes.” The boy looked at her like she was a god before drinking the thick liquid.
“God, who knew the boss would get such a useful girlfriend? Thanks (Y/n)! ‘Ppreciate it.” he said, handing her the now empty bottle. Her face began to heat up at his words.
“O-oh I’m not his-”
“(Y/n)! Come here, I wanna show you something.” he said, motioning her over to the chair. She nodded before walking over to him, sitting in the chair. “Okay, ready?” he asked, waiting for her approval. She nodded, sending him a smile. With a press of a button, the chair she was in began vibrating, light pressure being applied to her back. She practically purred at the feeling, closing her eyes.
“What is this?” she asked, words bumping together from the sensation of the chair. He chuckled before sitting beside her, grabbing her hand in his.
“It’s called a massage chair. It’s a muggle invention. Nice innit?” he asked, watching as she purred some more, nodding brainlessly. His eyes traveled over her relaxed expression, tracing all the curves and contour of her face. However, he couldn’t help the tightening of his pants when she began to moan in pleasure at the feeling of the muggle device. If he could barely get through this, how was he supposed to survive an entire mission with her? Especially one where they’d be sleeping in the same bed, every night?
“Showers, a lot of cold showers.” he muttered to himself. He smiled once he realized she had fallen asleep, deciding to join her in slumber.
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#neville longbottom x reader#neville x you#Neville Longbottom#neville x reader#neville longbottom x you#harry potter imagine#harry potter imagines#Harry Potter#harry potter x reader#mafia!neville#mafia!au#mafia
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Welcome Home, Kauri
@gottalovethemwriters (won’t let me tag you!) requested: I know Kauri said he’d be there when Jake wakes up but could we have a drabble or snippet -or whatever you want, honestly- where Kauri wakes up and has to convince himself it’s okay to stay? please?
CW: Domestic abuse survivor navigating trust and relationships, some trauma response, PTSD references, referenced consensual spice
Jake is still asleep when Kauri slides out of bed.
After years of finding his way into apartments and bedrooms and basements next to a series of men he can barely remember, whose names slip off his tongue like oil or stick like ash or just don’t stay at all, Kauri is an expert at getting out of bed without waking the other people in it up.
He inches along the cool sheets and he doesn’t allow himself to look back until he’s out, pulling on his pants from the night before, tossed haphazardly with laughter. There’s an ache in him, sweet and slight, the stretched muscles of a night spent moving, laughing, arching his back and wrapping his legs around Jake’s waist, hands on either side of the other man’s face. His fingers twitch at the memory of Jake’s stubble scratchy against his palms, his cheek, his lips.
He can still hear it, still feel Jake’s hands sliding along the outsides of his thighs, shifting up to his hips, murmuring things in his ear in that low, deep voice that the really tall guys get sometimes.
He looks back, once his pants are on.
He gives himself a moment to love the ache, and mourn walking away from the promise he knows neither of them can keep.
Jake sleeps on his side, sprawled in the bed - king size, the one thing he told Kauri he couldn’t say no to when it was his own house, because he was six-foot-three and slept with his feet hanging off the edge of a bed his whole life since he was thirteen and he didn’t have to do that anymore, so he wasn’t about to - and the stress around his eyes and mouth drops away when he sleeps. Mussed-up blond hair and the line of his jaw catch Kauri’s breath in his throat.
The sight makes him forget, briefly, why he’s out of the bed at all.
I won’t be gone when you wake up.
He remembers.
“Sorry,” He whispers, too low-pitched to ever wake Jake up. He told Jake not to trust him - he’s told him a hundred times. Kauri can’t be trusted, he’s running from something inside of himself, and you can’t outrun your own emptiness. It follows you through every bus stop, every bad night spent sleeping on a bathroom floor or a park bench. It finds him through all the drinks and all the times he’s let himself be pushed up against the wall and taken, rough, and left limping to find the next direction to run.
He can’t run far enough to get away from this.
And Jake should have known better than to believe Kauri would be here, like he said. Everyone should know better than to believe Kauri’s promises.
He doesn’t believe them himself.
It’s with a burst of anxiety that he slides on his shirt, scratching lightly at the inside of his left wrist, digging into scars he wants to cover up with ink someday, maybe, but just… just can’t bring himself to do it. He’s had to hold still for too many needles, in his life.
Jake breathes, heavy and solid, and there’s a gravitational pull to that breathing, to the promise that if he gets back in bed, Jake will shift, and lay his arm over Kauri’s waist, pull him close, and that deep breath would shift the hair on the back of Kauri’s neck and send shivers down his spine. Kauri feels like he could circle Jake’s light.
It would be safe, wouldn’t it?
He could be safe, here.
But he’ll just hurt everyone, in the end, when the ugly inside of him finds its way out. If he doesn’t stay, that means he’s never here long enough to let his guard down, and they’ll never see him long enough to see what happens if he does.
If he doesn’t stay, Jake won’t see the emptiness inside him, the white light and cold walls and 162 tiles and roses and champagne and you’re so fucking lucky anyone ever loved you that chase him, and chase him, and never stop.
Anxiety turns to fear, bald-faced and laid hideously bare in the early morning pinkish-light cutting through the blinds, as Kauri turns the doorknob slowly, silently, and slips out of the room. He’s a coward for not trying to stay.
He’s exhausted by running.
He can’t stop.
He pads barefoot down the hallway, shoulders hunched. Antoni sleeps in this room, he thinks, letting his fingers graze over the roughened texture of the old wood, to the smooth frame around the door. If he knocked on the door, Antoni would wake up and let him in, and help him remember how to stay.
He doesn’t knock. He keeps moving.
The floor would creak, but Kauri knows how to avoid all the noisy spots. He’s done this a hundred times, two hundred, a thousand. Stay with someone, get up while they’re sleeping, sneak out the front door, and be gone before they wake up.
No one has to miss him.
No one ever does.
Right?
His backpack waits, next to his shoes, and he slides it on over his shoulders, humming in a half-whisper to Keira’s murmured greeting from inside. She’s all he really needs. She’s not dangerous, she won’t lock the doors, she won’t depend on him in ways he can’t possibly reciprocate.
He can’t be trusted, and Keira knows that. She’s been with him through every step, since Owen brought her home the first time in her big awkward box, since he named her, since the night Owen nearly killed him and broke her in ways that let her thoughts expand in ways they never could before.
Breakfast locations near me? Keira asks in her faintly metallic, feminine voice, muffled from inside the backpack.
“No,” Kauri whispers. “No breakfast. Let’s just go.”
Sensors indicate Kauri negative emotion feeling. Kauri reassurance require?
He moves out the door, sets the lock so it will click into place behind him, and closes the door. For a moment, he just stares straight ahead, at the nice little street, the sweet little neighborhood, the world that Jake lives in that is so far removed from what Kauri’s life has been. Run-down houses with cared-for yards, tricycles left out on sidewalks and in driveways, chalk drawings littering the world around him.
He hops down the stairs and starts walking.
“No,” Kauri repeats.
Kauri reassurance require. Keira’s voice is firm. Keira reassurance provide. Kauri good.
“Kauri’s not good.”
Kauri good.
“I told him I’d stay and I’m leaving. He should have known better than to believe me.” The sky is blue only around the edges, and mostly dark still overhead. He can see the last stars as the light of the sun begins to slowly overcome the colder, smaller light they send. He remembers, vaguely, that stars are photographs of already-dead things, sometimes.
He’s a photograph of a dead man, too.
“It is common for survivors of long-term domestic abuse to be afraid to enter into new relationships”-
“Don’t fucking quote Triumph at me again,” Kauri snaps, and then feels guilt, nauseous and heavy. “I’m sorry, Keira. I just-”
Want to go back.
He ignores her, now, and walks faster away from the house, from Jake, from the promise of safety he has never been able to trust. There isn’t anything safe about staying in one place, giving yourself up to be hurt again. There isn’t anything safe about staying.
“I told him. I told him not to trust me. I told him. I said you can’t, you can’t trust me to stay, you can never trust me to stay I won’t stay. I’ll run, I always run, because I can’t-... I can’t do anything else. He knows that, I told him I can’t stay.”
But he’d promised to try, the night before, weeks ago, he keeps promising to try and letting people down. That’s what he’s good at, after all. Letting people down.
Running when they want him to stay.
Disappearing when they need someone to rely on.
Sleeping on park benches just to prove a point, to himself if no one else, or to Owen, who he hasn’t seen in years and won’t ever have to see again, right? But still he wants to show Owen that he doesn’t have to stay in one place, that he can keep running and running and if he just keeps running, Owen won’t ever hunt him down, not even inside his own mind.
One block becomes two, and then three. A few hundred feet becomes a quarter-mile, and then half. He stops at a bus stop, standing a few feet away from the little covered shelter area, where a tired-looking older woman is already sitting with a thermos of coffee and a small service dog in a vest lying calmly at her feet. If she looks at Kauri, he doesn’t look back at her.
Just another young man running from whatever he’d done the night before, wearing the clothes he was wearing then, with his hair mussed and sticking out or pushed down. Just another dumbass who partied too hard and lived to regret it, right?
I want to stay, Kauri remembers himself saying, and closes his eyes against the hot rush of tears that hits, unbidden, unwanted. He’d said that. He’d told Jake he wanted to stay, and it was true, but if he stays they’ll see how little there is inside of him. How carved-out he is, how empty.
Bus arrival approximately nine minutes from now, Keira says from inside the backpack. The woman sitting in the bus shelter looks over at him and raises her eyebrow.
“Fitbit,” Kauri says automatically, and she makes a noise that could mean bullshit or could mean she believes him, and goes back to drinking her coffee.
He thinks again of Jake sleeping, sprawled out, long limbs and muscled shoulders. The way his face has changed, as Kauri has known him, losing the last vestiges of roundness from being young and gone more angular. The line of his jaw has sharpened with time, just like Kauri’s.
He doesn’t realize he’s lifted his own hand to his face, feeling the spot where jaw and neck meet, the flutter of his pulse underneath it.
Last night he had felt Jake’s heart beating fast, pressed a palm over it, pressed his ear there just to listen.
Kauri heartrate accelerate, Keira provides helpfully.
“Shut up,” He mutters.
The woman doesn’t look over this time. Probably safer to ignore the guy talking to his Fitbit first thing in the morning, right?
Kauri stands there, minutes ticking by, and just as he sees the bus turning the corner at the end of the block, he shifts just enough of his weight from one foot to another to feel the ache inside him, as much emotional as physical. The ache of a night spent with someone who would rather die than hurt him, a night spent wrapped in arms that would - could - keep him safe.
The ache of a loneliness Kauri is tired of carrying, the rock he wants to put down more than anything on earth.
He turns and starts to walk away, listening to the rumbling engine as the bus pulls up to the stop, but he doesn’t go back and climb on. It would be old habit, to curl up in one of the seats ignoring mysterious stains and close his eyes, try to catch a little more sleep, before he gets out a few stops from now.
It’s easy to keep living the way he’s been living.
It’s harder to make the choice to stop.
Kauri heartrate accelerate.
“I know,” He whispers. His steps go faster, and faster, and then walking turns to running, his backpack smacking into his lower back. He ignores the flare of the ache inside him - or rather he holds onto it as tightly as he can, to the memory of laughing and lips on his neck and someone who wanted to look him right in the eyes the whole time because someone needs to show you you’re gorgeous, you never believe me when I tell you, I have to show you I never want to look away.
The slap of his shoes on the pavement is familiar but it’s not, too, it’s entirely new.
Kauri has been running from the tiny white room inside his mind, from hands around his neck, from a love that wasn’t, for too many years. He knows how to run from things, it’s a pattern he carries deep inside him.
What’s new isn’t the running - it’s that he’s not running away this time.
What’s new isn’t the movement of muscles, the soft sound of his jeans, the wind in his hair drying the tears in his eyes. What’s new isn’t a half-mile becoming a quarter-mile becoming a few blocks becoming one more turn around a corner and then a couple more blocks-
What’s new is the man he can see waiting for him, on the lawn, when he turns. Small as a finger, from the distance, but that doesn’t matter. Small in the distance, large in his mind, under his hands, in his heart.
Kauri stumbles to a stop, catching his breath, staring.
At the end of two blocks, Jake is sitting out on a lawn chair in front of his house, and there’s another chair next to him, and it hits Kauri like a brick to the back that the extra chair is for him.
“I want to stay,” Kauri whispers, lips barely moving to form the words.
Kauri good, Keira says. Kauri good. Kauri good.
“Go home,” Kauri tells himself. For a moment, a horrible awful dizzy second, his feet don’t move. “Go home, Kauri. Go home.”
Kauri go home, Keira supplies.
He starts running again.
Jake looks up when Kauri comes to a breathless stop in front of him. He’s still wrecked from sleep, his hair looks ridiculous, and his blue eyes are sparkling as he gestures to the chair. He’s wearing a loose pair of sweatpants and a red t-shirt, and he’s never looked better, in Kauri’s eyes, than he does sleep-shadowed and touched by early morning sun.
“H-hey.” Kauri’s voice is breathless.
“Hey,” Jake answers, sipping his coffee from a deep blue mug he bought a few weeks ago, at a farmer’s market. Kauri was with him. Kauri picked out the mug.
There’s another one, pale with milk and sugar how Kauri likes it, settled on the sidewalk in front of the second chair.
“Door’s open,” Jake says, voice low, deep and soft. He doesn��t ask Kauri why he tried to run, or why he stopped, what brought him back. “I made coffee for you.”
“You… you were awake when I left.”
“Yeah.” Jake gives him a slight smile. “I told you - I’ll never stop you when you have to go.”
“But?” Say it again. Say what you said last night. Please, please, please say it again.
“But,” Jake says, and holds out his free hand, “The door will always be unlocked, for you, Kauri. I’ll always be waiting to let you back in.”
Kauri takes Jake’s hand in his, his long, thin fingers interlacing with Jake’s. He slides the backpack off his shoulder, lets it fall, gently to protect Keira inside, to the ground. Kauri good, Keira says, voice a little hushed. If she were human, it might be a whisper. Jakob Stanton reassurance provide. Kauri good.
“Kauri good,” Jake agrees, and Kauri moves to him like falling into orbit around a sun. “She’s right. You’re good, Kaur. You’ve always been good.”
“How did you know I’d come back?”
“I didn’t.” Jake grins, flashes slightly crooked teeth, evidence of a childhood where money for braces was never an option. His nose is a little crooked, too, evidence of having it broken more than once. It’s all a part of him, and it’s all perfect. “I hoped, but… mostly, I just didn’t mind risking looking like a fucking idiot out here in two lawn chairs by myself, for you.”
Kauri laughs, and the tears in his eyes are part of the laughter now, as Jake sets down his mug to pull him close, arms around his waist, resting his head against Kauri, cheek pressed to his stomach.
Kauri heartrate accelerate. Kauri go home.
“Kauri go home,” Kauri repeats, placing his hand on top of Jake’s head, running fingers through the mussed-up blond, sliding his palm down to cup the back of his head, fingers just brushing the nape of Jake’s neck. “That’s what I did.”
“Welcome home,” Jake says, eyes closed. “Welcome home, Kauri.”
“Welcome home, me,” Kauri whispers. Fear shivers over his skin, the hint of a memory of hands around his neck, locked doors, and pain. He lets it happen, doesn’t run from the memory this time, doesn’t try to chase it off. Just... lets it be there, and then feels the fear fade under the determination he’s made to stop running. “Welcome... welcome home.”
“Right. Now drink your coffee before it gets cold and ruins my big romantic gesture.”
Kauri laughs loud enough to start a dog barking halfway down the block.
---
Tagging Kauri’s crew: @maybeawhumpblog, @pepperonyscience, @haro-whumps, @18-toe-beans, @burtlederp, @finder-of-rings, @giggly-evil-puppy, @whimpers-and-whumpers, @moose-teeth, @whump-it, @lumpofwhump, @pumpkinthefangirl, @slaintetowhump, @astrobly
#erase to control#fluff#hurt/comfort#all comfort no hurt#ptsd references#abuse survivor tw#survivor navigating trust#relationships after abuse#future kauri#jake the shelter guy#referenced consensual spice#original fiction
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Taiyuu High Entrance Exam: Grigori Vai Quirk: Animate
@taiyuu-high-oct
Vai knew they were in for a rough ride from the second they saw the building.
They had wondered for quite some time why the entrance exam was being held at a secondary location instead of on school grounds, but looking up at the massive warehouse (carbon steel frame– melting point of 2,500° F; Fiberglass roofing– melting point of 2,075° F), the answer became clear.
Hundreds of applicants stand outside, slowly filing into an atrium of sorts (concrete floor– ‘melts’ at around 1,000°F) where a dark-haired woman in a grassy bodysuit awaits them, leaning casually against a two-story tall, cast-iron door. Vai manages to push their way into one of the less crowded corners just as the woman speaks.
“Welcome, hero wannabes!” she shouts, not bothering with a microphone. The crowd hushes and from Vai’s position at the back, they can just barely make out the woman– Pro-hero Lacca-daisy, principal of Taiyuu High –move away from the door with a grin. “As you can see, we’re a bit overwhelmed with the sheer number of applicants this year, but this test was a bitch to set up as it is, so no whining about the extra competition, ‘kay?”
Several applicants shift and grumble, but the principal pays them no mind.
“This here,” she stops to pound twice against the metal door. “is your first challenge on the road to becoming heroes, and let me tell you, it ain’t an easy one. You’re gonna be placed in a maze with a bunch of enemies and your goal is to wrack up as many points as you can by grabbing ‘flags’ we’ve scattered throughout. Bigger flags are worth more points, but there’s no limit to how many you can grab at once, so try an’ be strategic about which flags you choose. Once you’ve collected your flags, you’re going to bring them back here where the door will automatically log your points. There are two other ‘safe zones’ like this in the maze, but you’ll have to find those for yourselves. You follow so far?”
There’s a murmur of agreement throughout the atrium, but once again, Lacca-daisy doesn’t particularly seem to care.
“As for the enemies, there’s two types you gotta worry about. Type one: faculty. They’re all wearing masks and have been warned about using their quirks, but don’t think that makes ‘em any weaker. With or without their quirks, these guys will still kick your ass if you get too cocky.” she says, giving the crowd a meaningful look. “Then there’s type two: robots. You’re welcome to go all out on these guys and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes just to spice things up. Neither enemy will actively try to hurt you but they will slow you down, and if you’re not careful, steal your flags.
Last rule and if you break this one, you will be disqualified regardless of how many points you get, no sabotage. You steal from another contestant, set traps, slow them down– I don’t care how, you’re out of the running. Any questions?”
A smattering of hands raise and Lacca-daisy grins. “No? Nobody? Then get going!”
The door slams open, startling most of the crowd and sending the first of the applicants into action. Sat at the back of the crowded room, Vai immediately curls in on themself as the room empties around them.
‘Shit,’ they think. ‘Already off to a bad start.’
They stand and begin sprinting after the others, straight past a smiling Lacca-daisy and into the maze. Walls sprout up around them, each one reaching two stories before meeting the roof. Vai takes the first left and keeps going straight, trying to get away from the throngs of hero-hopefuls.
CLICK.
“Shit!” The lights go out. From around the corner, Vai can see a purple spotlight, and ahead another hundred feet is a pulsing green and blue one. It’s just barely light enough to maneuver, but it’s certainly disorienting, and more importantly…
“I’m glowing. Ffffffffff–” The soft white light of their skin and hair sends halos onto the walls and within moments, they can hear the mechanical whir, thump of a robot heading straight for them. “The one freaking day I don’t bring a hoodie,” they lament, dashing further down the corridor before ducking just below the pulsing light. They put their hand to the wall, testing for it’s malleability before cursing again. The walls are a carbon alloy, clearly created to withstand the barrage of quirks about to be thrown at them.
I could probably use it anyway, but I have no idea how long this test is, and if I overdo it…
The bot comes into view– a tall, gangly thing with reinforced arms and a clear weak spot in its neck. It scans for Vai, but hidden low under the blues and greens of the pulsing light, it isn’t immediately apparent that they’re there until a pale hand suddenly grabs the bot by its leg.
It tries to step back, but suddenly the teen is wrapped around it like a koala hanging for dear life and forcing their quirk through it faster than they can think. It raises its arm to beat them off when a loud pop! sounds and the whole thing twists, taking head and arm and legs with it.
The metal melts and bends and twists before re-converging on something resembling a twisted giraffe.
Vai slumps to the ground, staring up at their creation with dull eyes.
“Why did I make a giraffe? Could’ve made a lion, but no. I made a giraffe.” The creature in question cocks it’s matte metal head (steel, thank gods) and Vai groans again. “I know, I have no one to blame but myself.”
Looking up as they are, Vai sees the moment the blue light glints against the ceiling and–
“Okay, sweetie. Lift me as high as your spindly little neck can,” they grin. The creature complies, and Vai silently dubs him Jeff because why not. Once Jeff has lifted them as high as he can (about 17ft), they press flush against the closest wall and activate their quirk again, forcefully shaping handholds into the wall until they can reach the ceiling.
“Fiberglass roofing,” the teen grins. “Lightweight with a melting point of 2,075° F.”
Minutes later, soaring eighteen feet in the air on a freshly made pair of fiberglass bat wings and followed closely by an overzealous Jeff, Vai finds the first of their ‘flags’ rather quickly. Not having been given any guidelines on what exactly the flags were, they were surprised to find a variety of objects ranging from small disks to a full sized crash test dummy, all with the Taiyuu logo printed across them in incandescent paint.
“Jeff, take the dummy. I’ll grab as many of the smaller ones as I can,” they say.
“Oh, will you now?”
Vai spins in the air, shocked to find a rather well-muscled man in all black standing at the end of the alcove. “Shit.”
The man pauses, and Vai can suddenly feel the disappointed frown materialize beneath his mask. “You know this is a school entrance exam, right? You shouldn’t curse.”
Vai blushes red. “Shit, you’re right. Wait. Sorry, shit!” Vai buries their face in their hands, letting out a long groan. “I suck at this.”
They look up just in time to see the man running toward them, a bo staff having appeared in his hands. Jeff leaps in front of his creator just in time for the staff to come down with a loud and reverberating CLANG as Vai grabs as many of the small disks as they can before taking to the air and releasing Jeff, dropping him in all his 450 pound robotic glory directly onto the man in black.
Flying off as fast as they can, because Jeff’s robot form may be heavy but there is no way a trained pro is going to let that stop them, Vai shouts a quick, “Sorry!” and speeds back toward the first Safe Room. By the time they arrive, there are at least three dozen other applicants crowding the door, all clutching a variety of neon painted Taiyuu-themed objects. Luckily, their altitude makes it slightly easier to push past the squalling throng, but after dropping the disks and making their way back out, Vai still feels shaken in a way that has nothing to do with the crowd.
So many people want this…
They push through the middle this time, landing and curling their wings around their glowing form as best they can. They can feel the beginnings of some pretty bad bruises forming under the Fiberglass harness of their wings. Note to self: get an actual harness for next time.
“Attention, applicants! Time is now half over. I repeat; you better hurry your asses up!”
“She’s allowed to curse…” Vai grouches, turning in on what looked like another flag deposit. “Shit! This one’s cleaned out already.”
BANG!
Vai spins around, turning the corner to find a section of floor blown to pieces and two applicants nursing minor scrapes and burns.
“There’s traps now, too?” one of them shrieks, crystal growths in her skin flashing red in anger. “What the actual Hell?”
“Ah! I think I broke my ankle!” the other cries. Shaggy black hair obscures his eyes, but Vai is pretty sure there are tears dripping down his cheeks.
Vai pales. If I had landed any sooner, that would’ve been me… I’ve gotta keep flying.
“Do you need help getting back to the Safe Room? It’ll be slow, but I could probably fly you there?” they offer. Both applicants look at them like they’ve grown a second head.
“What, and quit while there’s still time left?” the crystal girl says. “Not a chance.” Beside them, the dark-haired boy nods along.
“We’re going to be the best hero duo the world has ever seen! We can’t do that if only one of us gets in!”
Vai nods in understanding, but feels sick even as the boy shakily gets to his feet, his friend helping him continue into the maze. They peel up their own shirt and gently prod at the darkening bruises digging into their hips and ribs.
Everyone wants this…. I can’t afford not to give it my all.
Taking off once again, they quickly scour the maze for more flags, but only find several more deposits, a disk someone must’ve dropped, and the second of the three Safe Rooms. That along with quite a few broken robots and several more injured teens– a girl who could stick to walls even warns them that certain walls have laser sensors in them too.
“Just a few more points,” they incant. “I can’t give up now.”
Suddenly, something hits them from behind with enough force to send them straight into the wall. Vai collapses to the ground in a heap, ribs burning like the sun. Another robot stands behind them, this time with tank treads and a gun.
Vai tries to stand, but the pain flares brighter and they collapse back to the ground. “No…Please, fuck, no.”
The robot advances, leveling the gun with Vai’s tear-stained face and for a brief second, they remember Lacca-daisey’s words.
“Neither enemy will actively try to hurt you but they will slow you down, and if you’re not careful, steal your flags.”
If they give up that last disk, the bot might leave them alone. If they don’t fight, just surrender and let it keep them here…
But that would mean giving up. That would mean saying ‘hopefully this is enough’ and letting fate decide, and fate, as Vai knows from personal experience, is an idiot.
They wrap their arms around their middle, feeling where a rib has popped out of place and is pressing horribly against the abused skin under their make-shift harness. The robot stills as they close their eyes, taking it as a sign of defeat, and Vai forces their quirk through their own body, superheating and popping the rib back into place with a pained shriek. It hurts– it hurts so goddamn bad they think for a second they might’ve lost consciousness, but when they open their eyes, the robot is still there, the gun is still leveled at their face, and Vai still doesn’t have enough points.
They stand, ignoring the sharp jabs of pain, and launch themself at the robot with all the force they can muster, sending the last of their energy into the bot in the vague hopes of it being enough. The treaded robot trembles beneath their hands, the gun click– click– click– clicking until Vai realizes with a start that the clicking has turned to a roar. They look up at the mane of their creation and give a watery smile.
“I made a lion.”
The buzzer sounds three minutes later and Vai has barely managed to scrape together another two disks and a plastic dog before collapsing in the second Safe Room they found, their lion falling to sheet metal as the last of their adrenaline-borne energy runs out. Eventually, several black-clad faculty members come to get them, one of them checking over their rib and asking what on Earth they did to it that the entire thing seems to be twisted like a barbers pole. The lights come on and someone heals them– properly this time –and Vai goes home limping, covered in sweat, and positively beaming.
They did their best, and fate will have nothing to do with it.
#bnha#bnha oc#taiyuu oct#audition#mha#tw injury#tw cursing#so for medical reasons I wasn't able to do this in full color in time#and my wonderful father wound up helping me shade my lion and add the gradients#thank you dad!
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I Wish
Chapter three is here. I will make this short and sweet. @i-have-arrived-bitch has harassed me into posting more of this story ;) honestly it didn’t take much convincing.
Word Count: 4.579
Warnings: descriptions of vomiting, swearing, probably terribly translated Romanian. I used google translate and tried very very very hard to pick through the meanings and actual definitions of words to use the right ones, but it’s still google translate, so if I did it wrong I’m so sorry. I tried and feel free to send me a message and correct me, because there’s going to be a lot of it in this story, so I could use the help before I post it. I’m very nice, I won’t bite if you drop me a message and say hey, thought you should know it should be said this way and I”m happy to fix it.
Chapter Three
Harry
I heaved a sigh and tossed another pamphlet on the coffee table. I really didn’t want to do this, but I needed to face the music.
“What was up with Si this morning?” Liam asked, glancing up at me.
“I have no idea. Who knows what she was on. She came home at three this morning, obviously drunk as hell. But from the way she was acting this morning, I would say she probably took something,” I dropped my head backwards onto the couch to stare at the ceiling.
I felt Liam watching me. I knew it was hard on him to see Sirena going through such a hard time, he was one of her best friends. Hell, all of my friends loved her, especially Liam, Niall, Louis and Zayn.
“You two will get through this, mate,” he said, trying to be helpful.
“What if she’s cheating?” I blurted, voicing a thought that had been nagging at me since we got home for this hiatus. I knew the reality of that being true was slim, but Sirena was so far out of my league, part of me just kept thinking she was going to find someone better, someone on her level.
“Harold, if there’s one thing you don’t need to worry about, it’s Sirena cheating. That girl loves you,” Liam said positively.
“So, what the hell happened? She was fine only a few months ago. And then this… drinking, partying, maybe drugs… all out of nowhere,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. I looked suspiciously at Liam, a thought occurring to me.
He seemed to feel my gaze and looked up. “What?” he asked.
“You two are awfully close,” I commented and he rolled his eyes.
“Harry, I’m not sleeping with your girlfriend,” he said exasperatedly.
I waved my hand, pushing that aside. I had moved on. “No. I didn’t think you would. I just meant that she considers you one of her best friends. She would tell you things she might not necessarily tell me, right? So… has she mentioned anything happening lately?”
“Oh,” his face relaxed as he realized I wasn’t accusing him. “No. She hasn’t said anything to me. If something happened that was bad enough to make her start drinking like that, I would have told you. I don’t care how close she and I are. If it puts her health at risk, screw secrets, mate.”
“So. What do you think?” I asked.
He closed the pamphlet he was reading and studied my face for a minute. “I think something big happened to her a few months ago. An event or some huge news that’s bad enough that she doesn’t want to talk about it and this is how she’s dealing with it. You know her as well as I do. When she’s upset about something, the worse it is-the less she talks about it. And if she’s not telling you, then it’s really bad.”
I frowned. What could be so bad that she doesn’t want to talk to me about it?
“If you want, I can talk to her,” he offered.
“Maybe, but not right now,” I blew out another sigh and dropped head backwards again. “I love the girl and everything, but sometimes, I think she tries to push me to the breaking point.”
“Why would she do that?” he asked.
“I think she’s trying to see how far she can push me until I leave. Until enough is enough.”
“And are you there?”
I looked at him and shook my head. “You don’t give up on the people you love.” I said evenly. My phone started ringing on the side table next to Liam, he glanced at the screen before tossing it to me.
“Dani,” he said and I answered, wondering why she was calling me.
“Hey, Danielle.”
“Your girlfriend stood me up,” she snapped. “I texted her to see what time she wanted to go pick up our dresses for that release party and she never answered. Unless she’s still asleep.”
I closed my eyes. “No, she was awake when I left, but I do know she said she wasn’t feeling well,” I said, covering for Sirena.
It wasn’t like her to just ignore Danielle. Even after Liam and Dani split, we all still remained friends. And much to everyone’s surprise, she became one of Sirena’s best friends.
“She could have at least answered me back,” she grumbled.
“Agreed. I’ll check on her in a little bit to make sure she’s okay,” I said. “Mind if I pick your brain really quick?” I asked. If Sirena hadn’t gone to Liam, she had two other people she might talk to about what’s bothering her: Danielle Peazer or Niall Horan, one of my other bandmate and best friends.
“Go ahead. If you’re thinking about looking for a mental health facility to stick her in instead, I know just the one to put her in.”
I snorted. “Maybe later. Has she mentioned anything major to you? Anything a while back?”
“Nope. Everything’s fine,” she answered.
“Okay. Thanks, Dani,” we hung up and I looked over at Liam.
“What happened?” he asked.
“She’s ignoring Dani for some reason. I swear, I don’t know what to do with this girl,” I sighed.
“Wanna take a break and go see Zayn? That might cheer you up,” he suggested.
I nodded, standing up and he clapped me on the shoulder. “Yeah. I’ll call her in a bit to see if she’s actually okay. We’ve only been gone three hours. How much trouble can she get into?” I asked rhetorically, following him out the door. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Sirena
I looked at my phone screen as Harry’s face popped up. I bit my lip and declined the call. I was almost to my Gran’s house, according to my GPS and I couldn’t be distracted by Mr. Perfect.
I turned down a barely visible road, trees so thick they blocked out the overcast sky. About a mile down the secret road, there was a huge stone wall, like a gate house with a gothic wrought iron fence blocking the road. I slowed down as I approached, wondering how I was going to get in when the gate creaked open. A light was flashing on my dashboard and I realized it was an automatic remote sensor. I drove in and followed the massive length of the driveway. It led to a round-about with a little flower bed around a beautiful stone fountain. The house was, in fact, a manor done in a very traditional gothic style.
A stone vestibule extended from the door out over the gravel drive, protecting the drivers from the rain. I parked under it and got out, grabbing my bags and ringing the doorbell. My grandmother answered, her face lighting up into a huge smile when she realized it was me.
“Oh, my sweet înger,” she greeted, pulling me into a tight hug.
I wasn’t feeling much like an angel today, but I kept that to myself. Now was not the time for sarcastic comments. I hugged her back, happy to have something familiar near me.
“Hi, Gran.”
She let me go and held me at arm’s length. “This is a nice surprise,” she commented. “Come. Put down your bags. I’ll make you food,” she said, pulling me inside.
The foyer was massive, dark cherry woods formed archways leading to different areas of the house. The ceiling was slightly domed, designed like a Japanese geisha umbrella. I could almost picture this being a house in Romania. I was turning, trying to take everything in at once, but at the mention of food, my stomach churned uncomfortably.
“Actually, I’m not that hungry. My stomach is pretty upset. But I will take some water, if you don’t mind,” I said, setting my bags in one of the arm chairs next to the grand staircase.
“Fine, but you’re too skinny. You turn sideways and that handsome young man of yours is going to lose you.”
I rolled my eyes as I followed her to what was presumably the kitchen.
“Is he here with you?” she asked, glancing around as if maybe he were hiding.
“No. He stayed home,” I said, feeling myself getting anxious about telling her why I was here. She was never as big as a believer as her mother.
“That’s too bad. When are you going to make me some grandbabies?” she asked and I felt my face heat up.
“Maybe someday, Gran. Is Nan home? I have a problem,” I said as we entered the most beautiful kitchen I had ever seen. It was my dream kitchen if I could ever design one. I felt my jaw fall open slightly.
The ceiling was dark wood while the cabinets were a warm chestnut brown. The walls were granite stone blocks fading from a dark brown to a white cream color and rough, not smooth. The counter was granite slabs of the same colors, matching beautifully with the walls and the stone tiles that made up the floor.
The island in the center was massive, about six feet long and four feet wide with drawers on one side, bookshelves at either end for cook books and a microwave underneath across from the stove with cabinet space on either side. On top was a sink, a fruit basket and a cutting board, ready for use. On the other side of the kitchen was more counter space with a secondary sink, dishwasher and a large arched window looking out over the massive rolling backyard. A matching breakfast bar ran the width of the back of the kitchen and I could very easily see myself getting comfortable in a life here.
“No. She’ll be home soon. Sirena, what’s the matter?” she asked, looking at me.
“I’m in love with this kitchen.” I said, walking around the island.
“You’re acting like you’ve never seen it before,” she laughed.
“Just… in constant awe,” I lied.
“Have a sit,” she pointed to the breakfast bar and went to the tall cabinets, pulling on one, which turned out to be the fridge. She filled a glass of water and set it in front of me.
“Thank you.”
She sat next to me as I took a small sip. “Is it Harry’s?” She asked and I choked.
“What?”
“The baby that’s making you sick enough to rush up here on short notice. Is it Harry’s?”
“I’m not pregnant. This is way worse.”
“Something you need Nan for?” she raised an eyebrow.
I nodded, feeling my stomach climbing into my throat. I didn’t trust myself to speak as I covered my mouth.
“Your eyes always lose their sparkle when you’re sick,” she looked at me curiously. “Bathroom is through that door and to the left,” she pointed without looking.
I rushed to find it, emptying my stomach once more. I quickly rinsed my mouth out when I was done and I could hear voices in the kitchen. I went back out and reclaimed my seat as Nan was putting things away in the cupboards. I always loved seeing my Nan. As a team, they taught us Romanian from a young age because she only ever speaks her native language.
“Ah, fata frumoasa mea, când ai ajuns aici?” she asked, hurrying over to give me a big hug.
“She said-“ Gran started.
“She wanted to know how long I’ve been here. I know. I remember my lessons, Gran,” I said with a smile, turning to my great grandmother. “I got here about five or ten minutes ago. I haven’t been here long, Nan,” I promised and she smiled happily, pulling back to take a good look at me.
She searched my face, her smile fading. “Arati diferit,” she commented and I frowned.
“What do you mean ‘I look different’? Different how?” I asked, confused.
“Ești o versiune diferită de tine.”
“A different version? Yes! Nan-that’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about!” I said excitedly, realizing she would actually believe me.
“Oh, mama,” Gran started, waving her hand.
“No, Gran. She’s right. That’s why I’m here. Yesterday-I was living in Texas and single. And then I have this crazy dream and I wake up dating Harry Styles, and living with him in London for a year,” I said, my eyes starting to fill with tears. I hate crying. I tried to blink back the tears of frustration as Nan perked up when I mentioned a dream.
“Vis? În ea a fost acolo o mulțime de ceață?” she asked.
“Yes! There was so much mist I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face and it tingled, like static. And then this thing started chasing me so I ran.” I recalled, seeing the dream vividly in my mind. “Then images started flashing on either side of my path, like projections on movie screens and I heard someone calling my name.”
“Who was it?” Grandma asked, leaning forward on her elbows interestedly.
“Harry. I felt like it was coming home after months of being apart when I saw him. I couldn’t breathe, it felt so real.”
“Because you love him.”
“Gran, I didn’t even know him before this morning,” I sighed, brushing away the tears that spilled over.
“Spune-mi ce sa întâmplat în continuare.”
“Okay, so next I reached a bridge. This dilapidated, broken wooden rope bridge that looked like it hadn’t been touched in two hundred years. Harry was on the other side, so I crossed it and then I was struck by lightning. Harry and I both fell over the edge. Then I woke up on my father’s couch in a stranger’s apartment in a country that I’ve never even been to.” Gran sat back and looked at her mother.
“Mama, you don’t think,” Gran started.
“Fulger? În cazul în care a făcut-o ai lovi?”
“On my shoulder,” I said, gesturing to the back side of my left shoulder.
“Show her, child,” Gran urged and I pulled my jacket off.
I pulled my arm out of my sleeve and lifted up my shirt to expose my back as they both walked behind me. Nan’s cold fingers touched my bare shoulder lightly and I winced.
“That’s where it’s been hurting all day,” I said quietly.
“Your scar hurts?” Gran asked.
“What scar? I don’t have a scar back there.”
“You were struck by lightning when you were seven. You don’t remember?” she asked.
“Gran, except for my Dream-I’ve never been hit by lightning,” I said seriously.
“Show me how to take a picture on that fancy phone of yours. I can never remember,” she held out her hand and I pulled out my cell.
I ignored the voicemail from Harry and opened the camera app. “Just push this button right here,” I showed her and moved my long hair out of the way.
Nan lifted my shirt more and I heard the click of the camera.
“Here,” Gran handed my phone back and I pulled up the photo.
Starting at my left shoulder and spreading down and across my back was what looked like a lightning bolt. Not the aluminum foil kind in a school play, I’m talking the ‘turn-night-into-day’ kind in the sky. Ugly, purple splotches spread around the impact site and the scar itself was pink and angry looking, which means it was still fresh.
“I’ve never had that scar before, Nan.”
She came back around to face me, her look very serious.
“I remember the stories you used to tell us, about Ivan, about being able to change things by wishing. The power you talked about, you never came out and said it, but it was magic, wasn’t it?” I guessed and she nodded.
“Ivan kept a journal about all the wishes he made in the dreams. We can get them for you if you want. I just don’t know how much good it’s going to do for you,” Gran said uncertainly.
“Because he didn’t change everything around him in a nap” I said and she nodded.
“For two hundred years, Ivan and his descendants kept journals about wishing, describing each dream and wish they made. The journals include more than just that, though. Day to day occurrences that affect the dreams and wishes. Then all of a sudden, they just stop. No more wishing and no more journals. The stories were passed down as just that, stories. The journals were kept safe and preserved, just in case the magic came back.”
I felt my stomach starting to act up again. “Why?” I asked, my muscles jangling.
“Who knows? Maybe they had a lemon of a kid who didn’t get the gift, or didn’t believe. Maybe they decided we had enough money so they didn’t need to keep wishing. For whatever reason, the magic stopped for two hundred years. Until you.”
“Why me?” I asked, trying to control my shaking.
“Prin toate drepturile, ar trebui să fie mort.” Nan said.
I felt the blood drain from my face. “Dead? Why should I be dead?” I exclaimed, my voice cracking slightly.
“Mama!” Gran scolded. She looked back at me, but there was no avoiding this answer. “There was one account of a family member who died during his dream. Someone filled in the journal telling of how miserable he was without the girl he loved. So he tried to wish her back to life, or himself into a new life where she was still alive. The theory was, the stress of such a big wish was what killed him.”
I opened my mouth, but she clearly wasn’t done.
“But why you survived, now that’s curious. Maybe the magic was building up all this time like carbonation behind a cork. Maybe you were really unhappy in your life and your wishing was just so much that it turned it back on like a light switch,” she shrugged. “Or maybe you’re incredibly powerful. I mean-you changed your whole life. Not just dreaming of investments, but your whole life, complete with memories,” she continued and I shook my head.
“All of my memories are from my old life.”
“The memories I mean are the ones you described in your dream. The projections on the mist. But in all the accounts I’ve read, I’ve never heard of mist that thick. And you said the bridge was broken down.”
“I’m confused,” I held up my hand, pausing them. “Be right back,” I hurried to the bathroom once more. I rinsed out my mouth once I was done and my phone started ringing. I jumped and pulled it out to see Harry’s face. I bit my bottom lip and declined the call again. I didn’t want to talk to him and say something really wrong. Not at least until I had time to adjust. I went back out and Gran frowned.
“Was that Harry calling?” she asked. I nodded.
“Probably freaking out about where his girlfriend is,” I muttered. “Do we know where she went?” I asked.
“She is you. You’re still the same person, she just has more memories than you, different ones. You should talk to him. You’ll feel better,” she said as I took my seat again.
“What are you talking about?” I asked. My throat was raw and sore from vomiting so often today.
“We’ll explain more tomorrow. But for now, you should call Harry and rest.”
“But what if I say something totally wrong?”
“So, make him do all the taking. It will help you sleep,” she said confidently.
“Why?”
“Am putea spune despre boală înainte de a merge,” Nan said and my brown eyes widened.
“Illness? Yes, tell me about the illness. I knew this was killing me,” I muttered. Gran gave her mother another look.
“It’s not a big deal, nothing life threatening, înger,” she said, placating me.
“Considering that I should be dead and I can’t stop throwing up, please tell me.”
“Ivan would get these headaches after his wishes. Not your average headaches, these were bad-in bed for days bad. They would stop once the investments started paying off. It’s just a side effect of separation from what you wished for, for some reason, and as far as we can tell-the bigger the wish the more severe the illness.”
“Great. So what do I do?”
“Spend time with Harry. He’s clearly what you wished for. He’ll make you better. Some of Ivan’s kids described what felt like a clicking in their chest the exact moment the illness stopped.”
I nodded and stood up.
“We’ll explain more tomorrow,” Gran added, standing up as well and leading me towards the stairs.
“Gran, what about Alek?” I asked.
“He’s good. Studying in Cardiff at the moment. They have a wonderful genealogy program there.”
I breathed a little sigh of relief. “Do I still speak to him?” I asked hopefully.
“Yes, but he’s not a fan of your boyfriend,” she said with a chuckle. “I’ve seen the way that young man looks at you and I can see why Aleksei is so protective,” she added, leading me down a long hallway and through a doorway into a very impressive bedroom. It had a California king four post bed that looked absolutely to die for. At the foot of the bed was a couch in front of a fireplace. A small, two-person glass table sat off to the side in a little alcove.
“This is mine all the time?” I asked, setting my bags on the bed.
“Yes. Your sister has the room next door and your brother down the hall. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen. I like to sleep in, but my crazy mother rises early. Michael gets here at about ten. Yes, you’ve met him before.”
I nodded. “Who’s Michael?” I asked.
“He comes in to clean for us,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows and from her tone, I expect Michael will be very good looking.
“Okay.”
She kissed my cheek and left, closing the door behind her. I grabbed my pajamas, an oversized tee shirt and some boy short panties, and changed, picturing Harry’s face the whole time. It was still pretty early, but after a whole day of being sick, I was exhausted.
“I wonder what you’re doing,” I murmured, grabbing my toothbrush and going to the en-suite bathroom. I quickly brushed my teeth and got comfy in bed. I dialed Harry’s number and waited for him to answer. I could do this. I was still the same person. I mean, honestly, how much could I have changed? The ringing stopped and there was silence on the other end for a moment.
“Please tell me you’re not dead on a ditch somewhere,” he said, his voice tight.
I thought about how I would respond and decided to just be myself. I would deal with any backlash. “And this is what, exactly? My ghost calling you to tell you which one?” I replied sarcastically.
“Oh, thank god. You’re fine.”
I felt the churning in my stomach ease slightly. “Listen, I’m sorry I didn’t get to answer your calls earlier. The first time I was driving and the second time I was talking to my grandma.”
He we quiet for a minute. “I have so many things I want to say to you right now,” he muttered.
“Say them,” I prompted.
“What the hell were you thinking?! Just taking off and not telling me where you were going! Don’t you know how worried I was? Where in the world are you? Dani called me saying you were ignoring her. I thought you two had plans to go pick up your dresses for the album release party. I don’t even know what’s going on with you these days, between the drinking and whatever drugs you’re doing-it’s like I don’t even know you anymore. And I wish you trusted me enough to tell me what happened, but you clearly don’t,” he took a deep breath and I brushed away the tears that had fallen.
Fake me had screwed up big time.
“Harry-“
“I’m not done,” he said, his tone a little softer now and I had a feeling that the angrier part was over.
“Okay, sorry.”
“I wish you would have waited for me. You know I love going to see your grandmothers. And we could have gone to see my mum and made a vacation out of it,” I waited for him to continue. “Now I’m done.”
I sniffled reflexively. “Harry. I don’t know where to start. I’m so sorry for everything I’ve been putting you through lately. I know this isn’t what you signed up for. The drinking and partying-it’s done. Ends now. I swear it. I know I’ve probably said that a million times, but this time I mean it. I don’t care how long it will take for me to make this up to you, I’ll do it. And as for what happened, I’m not sure. But as soon as I figure it out, I’ll tell you. I’ll always tell you. And as for where I am, I’m at Gran’s. I didn’t even think about your mom. This was a last minute thing that had to be done. I know that doesn’t help, but it was important,” there was a long pause and I could feel the change in the conversation.
He was done being mad.
“When are you coming home?” he asked softly and I had no problem imagining him lying in our bed in just his boxers.
“Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after. I’m not sure yet.”
“I really miss you, Si.”
“I miss you, too,” I replied, only half surprised to find that it was true. I had liked Harry Styles before the wish, but now? I don’t know what I would do without him. And that was the problem. My heart said I was crazy in love but my head said you can’t be in love with someone you just met.
“Are you feeling any better? I know this morning you said you were feeling sick.”
“I’ve actually been sick all day. That’s part of the reason I came here. They have all these crazy Romanian remedies. I can’t even keep water down. So, maybe it’s a good thing I’m not there so I don’t get you sick, too,” I said, stifling a yawn.
“You should get ready for bed,” he said.
“All done. I’m in my pajamas, which I believe is actually one of your shirts and a pair of boy shorts.”
“Mmm. You’re so mean to me,” he sighed.
I snuggled down under the covers and turned off the lights. “You love when I’m mean to you,” I teased, surprised at how normal joking with him felt.
“I wish you hadn’t left. I really miss you.”
“I’ll be home soon. There was just something I had to do here. I know it doesn’t make sense, Harry and I’m sorry,” I closed my eyes, relaxing to the sound of him breathing.
“It’s okay. You can make it up to me when you get home,” I smiled. “What can I do to help, baby?”
“Stay on the phone with me? You’re making me feel better,” I said honestly.
“How am I supposed to say no to that?”
“Tell me what you did with Liam today,” I said, getting into my favorite sleeping position.
He began talking and I drifted off to the sound of his perfect voice.
Tag List:
@everythingisoverrated @dsakita @i-have-arrived-bitch
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You'll like the 2021 Toyota RAV4 but probably not love it
New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/youll-like-the-2021-toyota-rav4-but-probably-not-love-it/
You'll like the 2021 Toyota RAV4 but probably not love it
The RAV4 is a sharp looking small SUV.
Craig Cole/Roadshow
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 is a lot like that one friend everyone seems to have: always there to lend a hand, provide a shoulder to cry on or show up at a moment’s notice if you find yourself in hot water at 2:00 a.m. in Tijuana. No, the RAV4 doesn’t really lead the compact SUV class in any one area, but it’s well rounded, perfectly capable and ready to serve.
Like
Attractive interior design
Standard driver aids
Added capability
Don’t Like
So-so infotainment system
Gritty reversing camera
Grumbling engine
Offering drivers plenty of choice, three basic flavors of RAV4 are available. There’s the standard model, an economical hybrid and then the RAV4 Prime, the plug-in hybrid variant with up to 42 miles of electric-only range. The example seen here is the most rugged of the bunch, the TRD Off-Road, which features a non-hybrid drivetrain and some additional features to make it perform better out on the trail.
For 2021, the TRD Off-Road model gains a swanky stainless-steel front skid plate, a first for the RAV4. This should help shield some of its delicates while thrashing around in the dirt. This Toyota’s body is supported by a uniquely tuned suspension, which features racy-looking red springs that supposedly provide better small-bump isolation on rough roads. This vehicle also boasts re-valved twin-tube shock absorbers for better body control over large surface irregularities. Providing and extra helping of traction is a set of Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail all-terrain tires mounted to 18-inch TRD wheels. These rubbers look super aggressive but are surprisingly agreeable. Indeed, the TRD Off-Road’s suspension tuning is totally livable, providing an impressively smooth on-pavement ride with little tire noise. If towing is your thing, this RAV4 can drag up to 3,500 pounds, enough for a couple snowmobiles or a small trailer.
My tester is also fitted with what have to be the most useless running boards in automotive history. The RAV4 sits low enough that they’re completely unnecessary. Making matters worse, these things are sure to get in the way while off-roading, plus they stick out far enough to streak your pant legs with whatever slop you last drove through. But here’s the kicker: All this added inconvenience costs an extra $549.
Get past those optional running boards and you’ll find this SUV’s interior is well built and the overall design is easy on the eyes, without any frou-frou add-ons or unnecessary sculpting. Mazda’s CX-5 is clearly more upscale and the Honda CR-V’s cabin is nicer, too, but there’s no shortage of soft materials in this Toyota and I love the racy-looking red stitching that runs across the dashboard, door panels and seats. This is complemented by crimson accents around the cup holders and available wireless charging plate as well as on the rubber floor mats.
The 2021 Toyota RAV4’s interior is handsome and functional.
Craig Cole/Roadshow
An 8-inch touchscreen is perched on the dashboard where it’s easy to reach and see (lower trims feature a 7-incher). Unfortunately, this display is home to an outdated infotainment system that’s challenging to use and rather unattractive. But hey, at least Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa are all supported. I appreciate the rubbery temperature- and audio-control knobs, which feel great in my hands, but some of the other HVAC buttons are a bit too small to easily see while driving. Beyond all that, this RAV4 also features the $1,620 Premium Audio package, which includes an 11-speaker JBL sound system, embedded navigation and a few other goodies.
As in other Toyotas, the RAV4’s back-up camera is poor, providing a low-resolution image of what’s behind you. The $1,950 TRD Off-Road Technology Package includes a 360-degree camera system, which is helpful, but just as gritty looking. This options group contains other goodies, too, like a digital rear-view mirror, parking sensors, a wireless charging plate and more, so it is worth the extra outlay even if the camera system is merely so-so.
The RAV4’s front chairs are supportive and comfortable, helping provide a good view of the road ahead. This SUV’s backseat is also spacious, with plenty of room for knees and noggins, though the rear cushion is just a tad too low for it to be totally accommodating. Also, the back door openings are narrow, so it can be challenging to access the rear accommodations.
This Toyota’s four-cylinder engine works surprisingly well, even if it’s a bit noisy while working.
Craig Cole/Roadshow
This example’s wide, power-opening hatch makes it a snap to access the cargo hold, which provides 37.5 cubic-feet of storage space behind the rear backrests or 69.8 cubes with them folded down. That’s more space than you get in a CX-5 or Ford Escape, but those scores do fall slightly behind the capacious CR-V.
The RAV4 is propelled by a familiar drivetrain, one used to great advantage throughout Toyota’s automotive empire. Nestled between this SUV’s front fenders is a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder that delivers a reasonable 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The engine is backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission that is, for the most part, quick-witted and smooth, though occasionally gearchanges can feel a bit uneven. The performance this powertrain delivers is perfectly fine; unladen, the RAV4 has no trouble getting up to highway speed. Really, I have no complaints about this SUV’s get-up-and-go, rather, I’m not a huge fan of its refinement. The engine is gruff sounding when on the boil and sometimes you feel uncouth vibrations.
But hey, at least the RAV4 is efficient. TRD Off-Road models come with torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, a feature that should make them reasonably capable little mountain goats. Despite the added weight and friction of four-corner traction, this SUV is rated at 25 mpg city, 32 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined. In mixed (though mostly highway) driving, I’m averaging about 31.5 mpg, which is, frankly, stellar for a vehicle this tall fitted with such aggressive tires.
The infotainment system is one of the RAV4’s biggest weaknesses.
Craig Cole/Roadshow
At interstate speeds a bit of wind noise makes its presence known, but this is hardly objectionable. The RAV4’s ride is mostly supple and the brake pedal feels good beneath your tootsies. This vehicle’s steering is crisp and quick, but a tad too light for my taste and the wheel’s rim is almost dainty its cross-section is so small.
Helping keep the RAV4 shiny side up, Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is standard fare on every 2021 model. This suite of driver aids includes lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition and more. The headline features, though, are adaptive cruise control and lane centering. Together, these two amenities make long highway drives a breeze, keeping the vehicle from wandering and effortlessly matching the speed of surrounding traffic.
Keeping pace with rival SUVs, an entry-level, front-drive 2021 Toyota RAV4 starts at 27 grand and change including $1,175 in destination fees. As it sits, the loaded TRD Off-Road model seen here checks out for $42,622. That figure includes a number of options like the Off-Road Weather Package ($1,015), the Premium Audio options group ($1,620), the TRD Off-Road tech pack ($1,950), door sill guards ($140), mud flaps ($129) and, yes, those silly running boards ($549).
Well, what do you think of the 2021 Toyota RAV4?
Craig Cole/Roadshow
With added capability and commendable refinement, the RAV4 TRD Off-Road is a likable SUV. I still prefer the CX-5, which feels much more premium and I think the CR-V is probably a bit more sensible, but as always, the ever-popular RAV4 remains an excellent choice.
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A New World
SPN FanFic
~The day everything changed.~
Reader, OMC, Sam, Dean
1,780 Words
Warnings: ANGST. Blood, Injury, Death.
A/N: I have no idea what this is...
Black eyes burned in your mind. Black eyes. How could someone have pure black eyes? Your heart pounded, threatening to break free from it’s cage as you ran through the house, desperate to make it to the door before he did. Your mind was a jumble of thoughts, everything was wrong; it was like a nightmare come to life. How could this happen? What was happening?
A second before you hand closed around the doorknob, a giant hand gripped your hair, tugging you backwards with such force that you slammed into the staircase; the wind pushed from you lungs as you fell to the bottom step. Pain spread through your shoulders and down to your legs where you had made contact with the hard, polished wood. Your boyfriend came towards you, kitchen knife in hand, eyes like coal. The scream that bubbled forth from your stomach was cut short by heavy fingers as he closed his hand around your throat, blocking all noise and hope for air.
Michael lifted you up with preternatural strength until your feet were dangling above the floor. Your hands flew to your neck, clawing at his fingers, trying to break free. He laughed at your attempt and turned you easily in one hand, slamming you into the wall beside him. Your head cracked into the plaster and the edges of your vision blinked white.
Still holding your throat, he brought the tip of the blade across your cheek, cutting into the top layers of skin just enough to draw a bright red line. You felt the trickle of warm blood as it slid slowly down your face. Your eyes were wide, fear shaking through every inch of you. Your boyfriend grinned and bent his neck down to you. His tongue ran across the cut, lapping at the mess he had made. He stood back up and licked the last drop from his lips. “Oh, I’m really gonna enjoy this,” he said, his voice sending another wave of chill through you. It was his voice, the voice he used to say ‘I love you’, the voice he used to calm you, to excite you; but it was all wrong.
Tears sprung from your eyes as you struggled against his hand. It was useless, he was too strong. You were going to die. Without reason or explanation, you were going to die by the hand of the only man you’d ever loved.
Again he brought the knife across your skin, this time swiping it across your collarbone; the exposed flesh opening under the blade’s firm pressure. You cried out; a weak, pathetic, wordless cry that fell unanswered through the empty house. No one was coming for you. Why would they?
Giving up all hope, you closed your eyes. You didn’t want to see the blackness anymore, didn’t want to see your lover’s lips curled into that devilish smile when he plunged the knife into your heart. You just wanted it to end.
Maybe you prayed, it was hard to tell. Your thoughts soared in a thousand different directions, a hundred lists of things you’d never done, a thousand faces you’d never see again, a million questions that would never be answered. The tip of the cold metal blade pressed hard into your chest, slowly making it’s way through your flesh, cutting into you like you were nothing. The pain spread like a wildfire through your system and again you screamed. This time, your pleas were heard.
Your eyes shot open as the front door was kicked in, but your vision was blurry; shock and lack of oxygen setting in to finally pull you under. Your heart leapt when you saw the man, just a tall silhouette against the fading afternoon sun; but someone was here. Someone had come to help you.
The newcomer wasted no time. He ran forward, yelling at Michael to release you. His fingers only tightened around your windpipe; never moving his onyx eyes from your face. He wanted to watch the lights fade, wanted to see the moment your soul was set free.
A second later everything stopped. The hand on your neck loosened and Michael’s face crackled with bright orange and gold light. He screamed and crumpled to the ground, dragging you down with him. Your head hit the floor and everything went black.
A scream woke you before you even opened your eyes; your own voice piercing through your unconsciousness and ripping you awake. You looked up into hazel eyes that smiled sympathetically at you. You tried to move away, your legs kicking at the floor, but there was nowhere to go; the man’s large hand held you down as he pressed a bandana to your chest.
“Hey, hey, you’re gonna be fine. Just relax.” His voice was deep and soothing; he spoke softly, with a kind tone that told you he’d done this before. “What’s your name?”
Your eyes darted back and forth across his face, trying in vain to understand what had just happened to you. “Y/N,” you finally managed to say. Your voice scared you, it was shaky and raw. You coughed and cried out as the movement pulled at your wound.
“Y/N,” he smiled. “Beautiful name. I’m Sam Winchester. Everything’s going to be OK. You’re safe now.”
You shook your head, “But… his eyes…what…” Your questions were lost beneath a flood of tears that broke free, choking you as the trauma returned to you. “Is he dead?”
Sam frowned, his eyebrows knitting with concern. “Yes, Y/N. I’m sorry. Michael was possessed by a demon. He was going to kill you.”
“A what?” You pushed at his hand and sat up slowly, leaning back against the wall. You looked around, Michael’s body was gone, just a pool of dark blood remained where he had fallen.
“A demon. We’ve been tracking him for a few days. The girls that went missing this month, he’d been…” Sam paused, stopped by the look of panic in your face. He shook his head and gave you a tiny smile. “It doesn’t matter. You’re safe now.”
“But…”
The door opened again and another man walked in. He wiped his hands on a rag and shoved it into the back pocket of his jeans. “We good?” he asked Sam, giving you a quick glance.
Sam cleared his throat and looked at him over his shoulder. “Yeah,” he answered and turned back to you. “You think you can stand?”
You nodded and took his hand, letting him help you to your feet. Your head spun and you swayed, but Sam’s strong hands held you steady. You took a deep breath and fought back your tears. “What do I do now?”
“We’re gonna drive you to the hospital and they’ll fix you up,” said the other man, giving you a small half smile and a nod.
Sam led you outside, his arm across your shoulders, and his hand gripping yours. His weight across your back was comforting and you let your mind go blank; it was all too much to try and comprehend at once. This man had saved your life. Michael was dead. Michael was a demon. Demons are real.
You pulled away suddenly, your body reacting to the panic in your mind. “Demons!” you yelled, your voice flying through the open air. “Demons!”
Sam reached for you again, but you pulled back, your legs telling you to run. “Y/N,” he held his hands out in a calming gesture, trying to get you to relax. “Let us take you to the hospital.”
“No! I’m not going anywhere with you! You just murdered my boyfriend! He tried to kill me! Demons? Demons!”
“Sam, calm her down man.”
“I got it Dean,” Sam snapped, eyeing the other man quickly before turning his attention back to you. “I know this is a lot, believe me, but just come with us, I’ll explain everything in the car. Please.”
You nodded, agreeing silently. What choice did you have? You were bleeding and they had a car. You walked past Sam towards the shining black Chevy parked in your driveway and eyed the other man who stood by the driver’s side door. “And who are you?” you asked finally.
The man sighed and opened his door. “Dean Winchester, nice to meet you. Get in.”
The hospital wasn’t far, but Dean drove slowly, the broken road making you wince and whimper in pain every time the car hit a bump. Sam was half turned around in the front seat, explaining to you gently about the world you’d just been exposed to. Monster were real. Vampires and werewolves, angels and demons, they were all real. People like he and his brother hunted them, keeping the supernatural world underwraps so that people like you didn’t have to worry about it. He went on and on, giving you the big picture stuff, letting you know that despite what had happened, you could move on and go back to your normal life; people did it everyday. You didn’t believe that. How could you move past this? Michael was your life and he was gone. What was left? How could you go on with normal life after you’d seen what you’d seen?
Sam walked you to the emergency room doors, stopping before the automatic sensor opened the entrance for you. He put his hand on your shoulder, calling your attention up to him.
“I’m really sorry this happened to you, but you will be OK. I promise.” He smiled sadly.
“I’m not really sure how that’s possible Sam, but… thank you. You saved my life.”
He pressed his lips together and looked down, “I understand. Listen,” he said, pulling out a card from his wallet and holding it out to you. “This is my number. If you ever need anything, even just to talk about it, call me.”
You took the paper and looked it over. “Agent Bonham?”
Sam laughed, “Yeah, well, the number is real at least.”
You watched as the Impala pulled away, the Winchesters leaving your life as quickly as they had entered it. Your fingers fumbled with the card for a moment before you shoved it in your back pocket. Maybe you’d call him. Maybe you’d throw the card away as soon as you got home. Honestly, you didn’t know. You had no idea what would happen next, couldn’t even begin to imagine where you’d go. The only thing you knew for sure was that your life, your normal, happy, regular life was over. For better or worse, you’d been given a glimpse at a new world and there was no way you were closing your eyes to it.
Forevers: @1-800-misha @27bmm @amanda-teaches @applepie-and-angelwings @arryn-nyxx @atc74 @autopistaaningunaparte @ayeeitsemry @bea789 @because-imma-lady-assface @babypieandwhiskey @blanketmadeofstar @brewsthespirit-blog @britt-spn @buckysmetallicstump @bulletscrossbowpie @charliebradbury1104 @chaos-and-the-calm67 @chelsea072498 @chumi-la-chula @cici0507 @clairese1980 @collectivekiera @cosmicpeanuthologram @createdbybadappreciation @cyrilconnelly @dannnyphantomm @dancingalone21 @deadinside-muser @deanxfuckingadorablexwinchester @demonangelimpala @docharleythegeekqueen @dustycelt @evansrogerskitten @evyiione @faithfulpanicmoon @feelmyroarrrr @flowermisha @freaksforthewin @frenchybell @fuckyeahfeysand @gemini75eeyore @ghostkitty1103 @hamartiamacguffin @impalaimagining @im-super-potter-locked @inmysparetime0 @jealousbitxh @jpadjackles @jotink78 @kristaparadowski @kas-not-cas @katrodriguez99 @lavendellove @likesiriusly @love-kittykat21 @luciisthebest @maddieburcham1 @mamaredd123 @meganwinchester1999 @megansescape @mija-novella @milkymilky-cocopuff @mogaruke @mrsbatesmotel53 @mrswhozeewhatsis @my-life-is-here-soo @myfand0msandm0re @mysteriouslyme81 @naadestiel @notesfromalabprincess @notnaturalanahi @obi-wan-my-only-ho @overcastmisfitkid @pain-of-artifice @percussiongirl2017 @percywinchester27 @petrovadixon @pinknerdpanda @poukothenerd @riddikulus-obsessions @riversong-sam @sam-winchesters-long-locks @sandlee44 @sarahgrace-1989 @scxrchy @smoothdogsgirl @spectaculicious @spontaneousam @summer-binging-spn @superbasementflower @supernaturallymarvellous @supernaturalyobessed @tennesseewhiskey-and-pie @trexrambling @thecynicalnerd @the-latina-trickster @therewillbeblood @tom-is-in-my-tardis @typicalweirdbookworm @thegreatficmaster @vine-colored-assbutt @whatareyousearchingfordean @wi-deangirl77 @winchestersmut @wvnchxstxr @xxthevampirediariesexpertxx @yearoftheweasley @youtubehelpsmesurvive @yvngkinggchristyy
#spn fanfic#angst#sam winchester#dean winchester#reader insert#reader angst#demons#stuff#no clue what this is honestly
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Phobia Ward Session 1 & 2
By: Byron Kastilahn and Luna K (Author’s Note At the End)
Content Warning: Allusions to sexual violence
Length: Very Long
SESSION 1: Luna K
PART 1
When I was younger I was fascinated about the deep web and what goes on behind below the tip of the iceberg. Late at night I would dive into places no person in their right mind would imagine. I came across gore, child porn, murders, snuff films. You name it, I’ve seen it. But there was always something I came across on my nightly searches on the deep web. It was an advertisement for a hospital.
After coming across if for at least the 50th time I finally decided to inspect it. You see, this wasn’t any regular type of hospital being advertised. It was a mental ward in a way. Nothing like I’ve ever heard of before. The owner and head Doctor of the hospital posted a video on the website giving almost a virtual tour. Now as you know from someone who browses the deep web usually videos like this would take a dark turn for the worse.
Thankfully I had a strong stomach, so whatever videos decided to pop up I was able to watch with ease, but nothing seemed wrong in this video. It seemed like a fairly clean and nice place to be sent to, although the concept of the ward was very odd. It was a mental hospital that you could send your loved one to if they suffered from any type of phobia no matter how severe. Frankly I thought that was an amazing idea, that seemed to help people get better.
Years later after highschool, when I was majoring in journalism we had to write a seven page essay about a subject of our choice. So automatically I thought of the hospital and I came across that one night on the deep web. I went back to find the website for the first time in six or so years and it was there, but this time with a new polished look and a different video. My guess was since the original owner was fairly old, he must have had a son that he passed on the hospital to. I called the number that was listed and the phone rang a couple times before going to voicemail.
“Hello, you have reached the voicemail of Dr. Winston J. Howard. If you would like to admit yourself or a family member, press one. If you would like to know our office hours, location, or when it’s best to contact us, please press 2. If you are calling to donate to our hospital please get your credit card ready and stay on the line. To speak with a nurse please enter your parties extension now.”
I pressed two and heard as the phone rang a few more times. This time I was greeted by a friendly voice.
“Hello you have reached St. Matthias Hospital and Phobia Ward. Who may I have the pleasure of speaking to?”
“Uh… yeah, hi. I’m Olivia Thorne and I’m doing research for a college class. I was wondering if I could stop by and see what you guys are all about and if you were offering any internships.”
“Thank you for calling us Olivia. We are looking for some eager interns wanting to learn more about the human psyche. We are open seven days a week for 24 hours a day and you can find our address on our website under the description of the video. We are looking forward to having you come in. I’m Nurse Lucinda and if you need to contact us again please do not hesitate to call us and to speak to me again. My extension is 583 and you just dial that in when you get the voicemail.”
I was very surprised by how nice the nurse was considering that it was almost midnight and she was probably working a 10-12 hour shift. After more browsing around on the website I found the address listed. I wrote it down on a piece of paper along with the nurse’s name and extension number. I headed off to bed after spending a few more hours on the deep web like I used to.
I woke up around 10 a.m., got ready and headed out to my car to buy some shitty fast food breakfast and coffee. While I ate I entered the address into my phone’s gps. Then I was back on the road. The hospital seemed like it was all the way up in Montana while I was in Wyoming, so I this wasn’t just some two/three hour trip. It was going to take a while. Every now and then I would stop to get gasoline and get something to eat, but I always had a strange feeling when I would get out of my car. I felt vulnerable. Like someone was watching me. Making sure that if I didn’t do what I was suppose to be doing they would jump out and get me. I’ve never had that feeling in my entire life and I tried to dismiss it as me just being paranoid for being this far away from home.
I continue on the road for quite awhile. I stop at this shabby motel to sleep. It’s dirty and I can see the imprint of the last person who slept in the bed. I’m too tired to care and I pass out. I then wake up around seven in the morning and I’m back on the road.
I notice there’s a big black truck following me for a good hour and a half and I start to feel uneasy again. I try to call my mom and tell her what’s going on but there’s no service out here. I then start to panic and right there I blow out my back left tire and have to pull over. God, I hope that whoever’s in that truck just passes by me. But he doesn’t. He pulls over and rolls down his window. A big muscular man is behind the wheel.
“I saw your tire blew out. Do you need any help?”
“No, I’m fine.” I chuckle nervously.
He opens his passenger door.
“C’mon, I’ll give you a ride to the nearest mechanic.”
A shiver goes down my spine, but I’m stuck out here with no spare tire so I hesitantly get inside the truck. I close the door and it automatically locks. I panic and feel something wrap tightly around my neck. My vision starts blacking out and I can’t breathe. Everything goes black.
PART 2
I feel “someone” gently tapping my cheek. A gloved hand forcefully opens my left eye and shines a light into it and proceeds to do the same one to my right eye. All sounds are muffled and my ears are ringing
“Way to go you bumbling oaf! She broke a blood vessel in her left eye. I gave you specific instructions to get her here unharmed.” The “someone” pours a bucket of ice water on me.
“Good morning princess.”
I shoot straight up. It’s dimly lit and my eyes finally focus on the man standing in front of me. He’s tall and has a well kept beard. He’s also wearing a dirty lab coat covered in something I don’t want to know. The guy from before is standing next to him, he looks like a midget standing next to Big Show over there.
“I’m so glad you took an interest in my little institution here, but you were stupid to come.”
Then Big Show picks me up and straps me down in a dirty gurney. They wheel me out of the room I’m in and take me down a long hallway.
“What you’re about to experience is your worst fears brought to life. Are you ready for that? We have to get you cleaned up though, you had a little accident when my nurse here got ahold of you.”
I notice another man wheeling the gurney. He’s not as big as my friend on the right but he’s very tall and skinny. He looks like he’s been injecting heroin since he was five. We go through a set of doors and they unstrap me for a moment. I can’t fight Big Show. He could kill me in one hit, so I stay still. They then remove my clothes and push me against a brick wall and blast me with a hose. They shut off the water and I’m sore from the pressure of the water.
My head is spinning and all I can think is, “why me”?
Why out of all the people in the world? Why did this happen to me? After they clean me off I’m lead down another hallway filled with doors and behind those doors I hear screams. They open a door and push me in the room. There’s another girl in a far corner of the room. She’s shaking and crying uncontrollably. I hear words but I can’t make it out, she picks at her skin.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“They’re in my skin,” she mutters.
“What’s in your skin?”
“The doctor. He put the eggs in my skin and now they’re hatching. I can feel them crawling in me.”
She starts wailing and takes a piece of broken mirror and starts carving away at her arm. I panic and try to stop her but she starts thrashing and screaming. She manages to stab me in the hand with the glass! I pull away and run to another corner of the room. I watch as she continues to carve away the skin at her arm. Her skin gets whiter and whiter as her blood drains out of her arm.
“There… they’re all gone.” she says weakly as her body goes limp. I wait a bit and then walk over to her and in the piles of tissues and puddles of blood I-
I see spiders.
I start banging the door and screaming. There’s a freaking dead person in here! Finally, after about a good three and a half minutes of screaming a nurse unlocks the door and two men pick up the body and put her in a bag to carry her off.
The nurse gives me a glare and slams the door. There’re still puddles of blood and spiders in the room, but I don’t think they care. I sink down back into my corner and I start crying. I’m terrified! You hear things like this happen everyday but I never gave it a single thought that it was going to happen to me. I mean I wasn’t the safest person in the world, but when you’re young you really never think about your mortality and how anyone can die or be kidnapped in a matter of seconds.
I eventually cry myself into a deep, dreamless sleep, only to be woken up by that nurse. She slaps my face, sticks a needle in my arm and injects me with whatever was in the syringe. I start panicking. She gives me another hard slap and tells me to stop moving so much or she’s going to mess up. I stay still and tears start rolling down my face. Then one of the guys from earlier comes in the room with a wheel chair. He picks me up and sits me down.
I try kicking him, but my legs don’t want to move.
The nurse paralysed me.
They wheel me down the hall as the nurse scans her badge on some kind of sensor and holds the door open. I finally get to a room that is very brightly lit with a single chair right in the middle. It looks like a refurbished dentist chair with a helmet strapped to it. I get picked up again and strapped into the chair. I ask what’s going to happen to me but neither the nurse or the man reply. They exit the room and an old man walks in. He is very short and he looks like he could topple over if there was a strong gust of wind.
He takes his time studying me before taking a chair from the far corner of the room and sitting next to me. He has a slight German accent.
“Hello, I’m Doctor Ludwig. I will be examining you today. You look like a very healthy girl, yes?”
“Y-yeah. I go to the gym a lot in my spare time. Doctor, where am I?”
“You are part of a big experiment that will change the world. Do not worry. You will not be hurt if you just cooperate and listen to my staff.”
“But how did I get here and why am I here?”
“You called us. Don’t you remember? You called our head nurse to set up an internship.”
My blood turns cold. The feeling was buried deep in my brain, but I still couldn’t believe that this was the same place I was actually trying to apply for.
“Now that we are done with formalities, I would very much like to start examining you.”
He walks behind the chair and puts the helmet on my head before he sets up a monitor. He also puts a heart rate tracker on my finger.
“Now I want you to take deep breaths. If you don’t while this helmet is on, your lungs will collapse.”
I start taking deep breaths and the Doctor pulls down the front part of the helmet to cover my face. Then I feel another needle going into my arm. The machine turns on and I’m transported into the old basement of my house. I hear my family upstairs laughing and talking, and for some reason I’m down here. I start looking around, puzzled why I’m here. Then I see him, Uncle Brian…
He wasn’t my real uncle. Just a friend of my dad’s who insisted I call him Uncle Brian. He hands me a can of warm beer and tells me to take a sip. I listen to him and I immediately spit out the warm liquid.
“Ugh, it tastes like pee!” I sputter.
Uncle Brian laughs. He insists that I take another sip. He practically forces the drink down my throat. My head starts to feel fuzzy and warm. My vision is blurring. I feel Uncle Brian pinning me down, putting almost all of his weight on me.
My speech is slurred, but I manage to say, “Ow, get off! you’re hurting me!”
All he does is laugh.
Then…
PART 3
The simulation turns off and the doctor quickly removed my helmet.
I start crying again.
The nurse wheels me back into my room. All I can do is curl up into a ball on the cot. I want to die. I tried so hard to forget those memories and they brought them back. Someone from the staff opens my door and they pull me out of bed. I try to stay as limp as possible, because I’m tired of fighting.
They put me in a wheelchair and I notice more people are walking down the hallway. I guess it’s time for dinner. I get wheeled into the cafeteria and they set a bowl of grey looking mush down in front of me. More people gather to the table I’m sitting at. There’s a low chatter throughout the room and I wonder how many people were tricked into coming and how many people came here willingly.
“Hey you.” I look up at the man saying that, “Where’s Clara? That’s her spot.”
That must have been the name of the girl who was in my room.
“She kinda freaked out and there was an accident.”
“Oh, so she killed herself?”
I’m surprised how bluntly he was able to say that, but I nod my head. They continue to pick at their food. I feel like time is escaping from me. Soon I’m wheeled back into my room. I spend what feels like three days in there with trips back to the cafeteria. Day four rolls around and I finally decide to get out of bed. I find a piece of broken mirror from the incident. It gleamed at me from a crack at the foot of the wall it must of slid halfway into. I unsheath it and it’s long!
I look at it for a long time. I don’t know if I want to kill myself anymore, so I put it in the pocket of the clothes they gave me.
I continue with the routine like everything is normal and they wheel me to the doctor again.
“We meet again. I would like to apologize for causing you distress earlier, but it seems you have recovered, so now we must continue with the treatment.” I get strapped in the chair and I start taking deep breaths like before. I start to panic and then I feel a sharp pain in my chest and I’m struggling to breathe.
They quickly remove the equipment and rush me to a different part of the building. They strap me to a hospital bed and monitor me for the night. A nurse comes in and straps me to an IV. While she leans in close, I try to grab the piece of broken mirror in my pocket and I slash it across her throat. I hope it wasn’t too deep of a cut, but I was able to distract her long enough to run out of the room. They don’t have many staff on hand here. I’ve already met all the nurses, but my real challenge is to avoid Big Show. I guess I hurt that nurse more than I thought because I don’t hear any alarms going off. They had a guy try to escape a few days ago and they had alarms going off for hours.
I try to stay calm and nonchalantly walk down the hallways. I’ve seen other patients walk up and down here all the time, so I feel like I’m in the clear if I just make it look like I’m not in that big of a rush.
I’ve memorised all the hallways by now and I think I can find a way out. I go through a set of doors that are rumored to be where they take all the bodies of the people who die in here. Well, the rumors were damn right. The stench of the current bodies they haven’t disposed of yet stinks up the whole room. I hear footsteps and I play dead.
Then I hear alarms and Big Show walks through the door carrying the nurse. After dumping the body, he runs out of the room, so I count to ten and then slowly get up and look around. There’s another set of doors but that only leads to a furnace. Looks like I have to find another way out.
The alarms are still going off. I’m scared I’m going to run into someone so I take the uniform of the nurse, surprisingly not too dirty. I calmly walk out of the room and pull my hair up in a bun. My hands and feet start moving wild to unlock all the patient doors. Some come out of their rooms and begin to wander about. If I can distract guards this way maybe I can find a way out. Then I run into “him”.
“Well, Princess, looks like you finally mustered up the courage to try to escape huh?” the doctor says as he backs me up into a corner.
I reach for the glass I had in my pocket but I forgot it in the other damn clothes!
“Look, if you wanted to leave, you should have just asked. We would have sent you home all nicely wrapped in a body bag delivered right to mommy’s front door.”
I start to panic and then kick him in the crotch, making him fall to the ground. I run as fast as I can until I bump into Big Show and I stammer.
“I-I think I saw a patient run that way.” and I point to where the doctor pinned me.
He looks at me, mouth tightly closed, air steamin’ out the nose. His eyes pierce through my head like a laser about to melt my brain. Then he slowly and coolly lumbers down the hallway at a casual pace. My God… even I didn’t think that’d work.
I run into a set of locked doors, and scan the nurse’s key card to unlock it. The door leads outside where I see the sun for the first time in what feels like months. The air smells so different outside than it does in there. I don’t hesitate and I keep running.
I’m in a parking lot and I take a good look at the building I was held prisoner in. It was definitely the same hospital shown online. I continue to run as fast as I can and come to an open road, but I just keep running till I find a small town. There’s a small police station and I tell them my story, so they send me to the chief. I tell my story the best I can to him.
“I knew there was something going on over there. We had another case just like yours a few years back,” is what he told me.
And here’s the truth. It turns out there’s been multiple cases like this not just in America, but all around the world. Some fucked up science project from a bunch of mad, rich men. The police call my mom and they set me up in a small inn they have in town. A few days later I was able to go home and when my mom saw me she burst into tears. I cried for days, I was finally out of that hell hole. But I know, oh I know this hasn’t truly ended.
SESSION 2
Intro Log
My name is Daniel Sanchez. My Father’s name was Derek Sanchez.
My Dad and I were always explorers. I’ve loved the thought of adventure since I was born, likewise to Dad. As a child my Dad would venture through his neighborhood with his friends, as well as the old creek right next to it to the dusty hillsides right outside of that humble bunch of houses.
Then when I was born, my Dad new he had a sidekick. We did everything together. Watched movies, played games, and he taught me everything I know. We played outside more than any of those things though. Hiking, urban exploration, you name it. He was always great at geography. And even though we generally stayed in our home state, he managed to find something interesting for us every time. The prettiest mountain top. That one spooky building that we could get into thanks to him being a cop.
Of course, by the time I was 21, I knew I couldn’t stay with him forever. I moved out with a girl I’d been with for a number of years and many more to come. I got a good job after four years with the Marines paying for my college. My life was set. And I still got to play some online gaming with Pops when the wife had to go to bed early.
But the separation wouldn’t last. Of course it wouldn’t last. And of course it had to lead to the most horrible moments of my entire life. Worse than war. Worse than that arachnophobia problem I inherited from him.
Trust me, I’ve seen bad shit overseas. I’ve gone through painful accidents on an adventure or two. But nothing prepared me for what lied in the ruins of that abandoned hospital.
“Abandoned in a failed cover-up,” my Dad said.
He’d told me the story over text messages.
“Freakish, human experimentation,” “Hundreds of bodies found,” “Torture on a whole other level.”
And it was only two states away. We made a trip to Kansas in Dad’s home town just about every year I was living with him, so a road trip was nothing. Just had to make sure the ladies were fine with it.
Little did they know the things that would happen to us. What I’m writing down here is a message that’s already been made before. It took them down once, but they’ve come back, fighting with tooth and nail. What I’m writing here is my little adventure to the ruins of St. Matthias Hospital.
Log 1
When we got to the hospital, the first thing we noticed was the smell. It seemed that at one point the place had released a fire that was never dealt with. The place was scorched black in many places. Burnt carpets and blackened walls, even whole rooms turned to ash. But it wasn’t the ash itself that left a smell. There was something more rancid carried by it.
We ventured through the building, trying to figure out the history to each room. Some were just empty ones with damaged chairs lying around, seeming like interrogation rooms or something. Some of these rooms with lone chairs did have a bit more though. Some of these chairs were a lot more put together with pieces of unknown machinery lying around. A few of these rooms with the ceiling still intact had a host of wires and machinery hanging from them. It was like things were ripped from these contraptions in a rush.
Then came what we guessed were the patient’s rooms. They had bunk beds in every one of them with remains of dried up, stained blood, numerous cobwebs and even clumps of fecal matter. My Dad and I payed our respects to all the poor bastards who had to live in these prison cells called “living quarters.”
That’s also when the first weird occurrence happened. Outside of these rooms we’d hear the faint noises of skittering against the ground. It was always very subtle. Almost unnoticeable. I had to point it out to Dad as a matter of fact. They would stop for a little bit and then pick back up eventually. As we’d leave the room, the sound would always seem to go further away. It was like something was crawling away from us, but always making sure to stay nearby.
It all stopped when we made it to what easily seemed like a cafeteria. Large, damaged tables with remnants of food grown moldy beyond belief. It was all just left there in a hurry. I hope to this day they all had a good meal after they got out of there. If they were even able to live a normal life again.
Then we finally came to the worst of it all. We stumbled across one room in the whole place we wish we hadn’t. All the implications. The floor, covered in dried blood. In some places you could see the imprint of body bags. And just beyond that room was the remains of an old incinerator. We finally knew where the smell was coming from. We really wish we hadn’t found out.
And it only got worse.
We left that room and decided to ditch the place all together, until we heard the footsteps. We were on full alert. It sounded like two people, so we prepared ourselves. Moving cautiously down the hallways as I covered the rear, my dad suddenly stopped without warning. This caused me to bump into him and get a bit flustered.
Then he pointed to the end of the hall. In the dim moonlight shining through the door at the end, we saw a shadowy figure. A tall, well built figure that looked like it meant business.
“You want me to handle this?” I whispered to Dad.
“I got it,” he pushed me back whilst walking towards the figure, “Listen, we want no trouble.”
And as my Dad got further, I felt something wrap around my neck! An arm! Then a hand with a rag covered my mouth! As I faded into unconsciousness, the figure by the door pulled what looked like a gun on my Father. I blacked out before I could see anything else.
Log 2
We awoke to a bright light. In the midst of our grogginess and grumbling came a voice from behind the bright light.
“Wake up boys. You’re in the hornet’s nest now, so just listen to us and everything will be okay,” the voice says, sounding Scottish or Irish.
Could never decipher the two.
I could just make out his bulky shape in the light. Before I could even wince though, a sudden coldness touched the underside of my chin. I noticed that it was a knife being held by a well toned woman in a black tank-top and jeans. Her hair was short and black and she tilted my head up towards her gaze with the blade.
“They look tough. That mean we don’t hav’ ta’ go easy on ‘em?” the woman said in a calm and cool, southern accent.
The man stepped closer, revealing his thick, muscular form and grizzled, black facial hair. He looked like he’d been through a shit can or two.
He said, “Boss says to stay with procedure. Start with the deepest one and work our way through their years.”
The man, with dark, messy hair and a scarred up left eye got close to me. I peered into the white void of that damaged eye and tried not to blink.
“Ya know where ya are laddy?” he asked.
I shook my head, still trying to keep my composure.
“Yer in a pit o’ darkness that you won’t be crawling out of til’ we skin off every last fiber o’ yer sanity and make ya wanna go cry to ya mammy!” he spat in my face. “You got it boy?! We’re gonna make ya wish you were hung by yer toenails an skinned alive over a fire rather than what we’re gonna put ya through!”
“Alright asshole!” my Dad barked in an annoyed manner, “My boy’s probably popped bigger flakes than you in the hot scorching deserts of hell. You’re not scaring us!”
It’s in that stalled moment that I noticed what Dad and I were sat down in. They looked like the chairs in the hospital where the machinery was hanging. And just like that, with one glimpse at the ceiling I saw those same accumulations of wires and metal. But this time there was a centerpiece to this mechanical rose bud. Hanging from all of it was something like a headset. Bulky, looking more like a helmet, but I could just tell that it was made for more than protection when it was connected to all of that.
My attention was soon grasped by the movement of the woman that was next to me. She was now in front of my Dad and I saw her drive the knife into my Dad’s thigh! He screamed in agony just as I was about to scream at her!
“You mother-!
I’m shut up by a smack to the face (more like a brick) from the big guy.
He pointed a finger at the woman, “The fuck I say aboot procedure!”
He then walked up to her and pushed her aside roughly before removing the blade from my Dad!
He kept it for himself and pointed it at the bitch, saying, “Yer not gettin’ this back ‘til we’re done. Now start the test!”
He walked over to me and reached above my head. I saw him pull down the headset and try to place it over my struggling head. He slapped me one more time before placing it over my now still head. When all I saw was darkness, suddenly the sound outside of it just stopped. I couldn’t hear my Dad’s cries. I couldn’t hear the man’s heavy breathing. Not even the whirring of the A/C.
Suddenly, three white dots started appearing in a row before disappearing and reappearing in that manner over and over. I soon realized that it must have been a loading screen. Then the pattern just stopped, two of the dots disappearing to only show one in the middle of the screen. Within a second this dot bursted into a flash of light that slowly faded into the sight of a bedroom. It was amazing actually. I felt like I was literally in a bedroom. I couldn’t even feel the weight of the headset anymore.
I looked around to then see my Dad sitting on the bed in the room when I could have sworn he wasn’t there before.
“Shit!” I yelled, kneeling in front of him and trying to examine his leg, “It’s… it’s fine?”
I could see his face wincing though as he said, “No, it still hurts. A lot actually. Where the hell are we?”
I tried to think of something to do for the leg while trying to communicate, “I think we’re in a simulation. Don’t worry about it. Should I just- should I just put pressure on it?”
Dad said, “Buddy, even I’m not so old to know that it’s no use. I highly doubt that’ll do anything in here.”
“Fuck,” I’m hopeless.
I looked at the leg and it seemed tensed up. Then I gazed worriedly back up at his face and it was paler than fresh snow. He was looking at something behind me. I slowly adjusted myself to look in that direction and see a corner of the room where a black mess of strings was all bunched up. No, they looked like dark, ink spattered webs. The ends of the webs connected to the walls had something growing from them. Black streaks and cracks grew all over the walls before it was just completely consumed by darkness.
In that moving, quivering darkness, something grew from it. A body, looking as if it was covered in tar. A part of the body seemed to open up like a mouth where the head of an old woman peeked out from it, her eyes closed and lips pursed. She then opened those dark, empty holes for eyes along with her mouth to allow a thick, black ooze to drip from all three orifices.
I crawled back away from it and noticed my Dad was frozen like a statue. His expression was panicked, but petrified. The ooze began to spread across the floor and as some of it touched me, strands jumped out of it and connected to my body! It pulled me into the pool as I began to scream! I looked at my Dad, and the woman had stretched her long, dark body all the way over to him. Her mouth stretched ever wider and began to engulf him before my eyes were flooded with vile, vile ink.
And suddenly we were back.
The real world just blinked back into my vision. The headset was taken off of me, and I knew for sure it was the real world. The stale air. The concrete floor. The same two assholes as before. I looked at my Dad who was still and devoid of emotion. His leg was bandaged up, but he didn’t seem to be showing pain anymore. Just exhaustion.
“Sleep Paralysis,” the woman blurted out of nowhere.
I tried to form words, but simply asked, “What?”
“Your Dad has sleep paralysis. They’re moments before falling asleep or waking up where you can’t do anything. Not move, not speak, just look at the world around you. And boy, oh boy can you see stuff. Your Dad sees a woman in his hallucinations. She’s more common than you may think for people.”
I’m still at a loss for words, so I just asked, “Who are you guys?”
Bulk, who’s sitting behind a computer, said, “We’re the remnants of a long standin’ project. Before, we were dressed up as nurses and doctors who would put you through these test. Now with some budget cuts thanks ta a little mouse that escaped, we’re here in the purest form, doing this in our basements. We’re what remain of St. Matthias Hospital.”
He then removed the restraints from my arms and held out a hand to me.
He said, “Name’s Michael. Lass’s name’s Gen. Welcome to the experiment.”
Log 3
After introductions were done, the two loons sent us out into a cold, grey hallway connected to three other rooms. They brought us to the last door at the end of the hall. The door was made entirely out of metal and had a slot on the top and one at floor level.
Dad and I immediately knew where we were going. Within seconds they introduced us to a cell with a bunk bed, toilet, and a drawer full of clothes. Then they left and we were abandoned here to wade through our thoughts.
I shook my head in disbelief, “What’s the plan?”
My Dad was still holding his leg while he sat on the bottom bunk, “What, like escape? This place is made out of concrete and the door is metal. Unless we somehow get a chisel and a Playboy poster, we’re not breaking out, son. We’ve gotta take them on. Find their weaknesses.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to think of something we could do right there, right now. I looked at the drawers. Three total, made of wood, possible to carve out a weapon.
Toilet. Way out? Too small? Too much time, maybe.
The beds. Could make something of a weapon from it as well, but it would be more noticeable. Push against door for time? No, bolted to the floor. Shit, shittiest, shit, shit.
“Hey!” my Dad snapped my attention back to him, “Just calm down. We can’t do anything in here and they’re not gonna keep us in here forever. We’ll observe as much as we can then and plan something out.”
“Fine,” I said, sitting next to him. I then looked at him and asked, “You okay? Like, you alright up in there?”
Dad just said, “Yeah. I just know that whatever they’re using is really good. Not only does it look real, but somehow they were able to find out so much about me already. I don’t want to say it, but it is a little scary.”
I told him, “Well, you get some sleep. You need it more than me. I’ll take top so you’re safe on the ground.”
He just shook his head and almost looked defeated. I climbed up to the top bunk and shortly fell asleep just after lying down. It wasn’t all sweet dreams and cupcakes after a hell of a day/night, whatever it was. I was woken up by my Dad screaming his head off! I jumped down from the top bunk and tried to see what was wrong with him. He was gripping the stabbed leg and I asked him what was wrong with it.
He yelled, “It’s like it’s- i- iAAAAAH! It’s hurting all over ag- g -gain! Tingles! Like sharp, punctured tingling!”
I looked at the bandage as close as I could and there was blood showing as if the wound opened up again! And then I saw it… I saw something move under his skin!
I banged on the door and yelled, “You mother fuckers! What did you put in him! You Goddamn assholes! Let us out! Let us out! Let us out!”
The terror, screaming and constant banging of my bruised fists were enough to make me slide down the door with exhaustion. They weren’t coming. They probably didn’t care if we died in there anyways. Dad’s screaming stopped and I woke up the next day with a crick in my neck against the door.
Dad was still asleep and he looked better. At the time I didn’t know if I was seeing things due to the lack of sleep, but I knew that we needed to get out of here the first chance we got so I could bring him to a real doctor.
Then the door opened, myself almost falling over due to still leaning on it. I caught myself before my face hit the floor and I saw that shit eating grin.
“Time for our next session, Laddy.”
Log 4
We were taken back to the room with the chairs and were immediately strapped in. They seemed to think that we were already used to this and immediately started up the session by placing the headsets on us. And like that, we were already in.
The heavy spatter of rain resonated in the ornate room around me. I was in what seemed like a fancy place with wooden furniture and I noticed that I was still sitting down. It was on what seemed to be a booth with a table in front of me looking as if it was ready for a fancy feast. On the table I saw a newspaper with a date.
July 21, 1998
The Main Moon Monorail was launched today as the fanciest and largest Monorail in Denver, Colorado. Serving as a luxury ride for sightseeing and transportation across the city, this vehicle boasts an old fashioned design to it’s inside. Evoking a retro feeling the moment you step in, you’ll be transported to a time when travel was all about the journey, and not just the destination.
Well, they were right. It looked pretentious for a city train. Wondered how much money people threw at it just to ride around for an hour or maybe two. Then I remembered that this wasn’t real and that this whole thing was made up.
A jolt from the train that I barely noticed was moving lifts my gaze from the paper and I saw my father across from me. He sat calmly with his hands folded on the table, just staring at me.
“Dad?” I asked him, waving my hand a little.
“Fear is a stupid thing,” he said, looking down at the white cloth draping over the table, “We get high strung about things that are natural. Limbs being too thin. Bodies twitching about. Birth.”
I looked at him peculiarly, “You alright Dad?”
He looked back at me, unfolding his hands and banged one of them down on the table as a fist, “You remember your first fear, son? The baby piss pants thing you were always scared of?”
I recoiled back in surprise, “Dad, you hate them too. The fuck’s your problem?”
The sound of rain tapped the window next to me even harder.
“They’re closer than you think. Closer to here,” he pointed to his chest, “And there,” and pointed at the window which it’s edge had only been in my peripheral vision.
I finally turned to get a good look at it and noticed that it wasn’t rain hitting the glass. No, it was big and hairy. Eight long appendages sprouting from fat, bulbous bodies. On the window were maybe hundreds of giant spiders slapping against it. It was like they were falling from the sky! Then a vent just above me popped open and the eight legged freaks started pouring onto my lap! I jumped out of the seat and batted the big fuckers off before looking back at my Dad!
He began to twitch in the seat, still looking onward as if I was still in front of him!
“Dad!” I yelled, “What the fuck is wrong with you?!”
Then his back began to pulsate! The skin under his shirt actually moved so violently that it looked like there was a wave under there! Suddenly, something burst out of the shirt- out of his back! It was a long appendage that bended in two places, looking thin, hairy and pointed at the tip. I knew immediately that it was a spider’s leg as more of them burst out! His mouth began to peel back as two large fangs protruded from his top gums!
The eight legs that came out of his back lifted him from the seat and he began to move towards me, his regular body looking like he was in some twisted ass flying pose! I backed away from him and tripped back onto my ass! His head was now growing hundreds of little, black eyes! Then something fell from the luggage compartment above me. A bag landed in front of me and opened upon impact! In it was a Beretta pistol just asking to be fired!
I grabbed the gun immediately and put those military years back to the test! I stood up and opened fire with just two rounds to his head. In the heat of things I was still willing to shoot it because I knew that something this vile couldn’t really be my Dad! The creature lurched back and squealed in pain, but it didn’t go down. I delivered two more rounds just as it prepared to lunge at me and the beast finally fell down at my feet!
I almost got an urge to look the spider thing over, but more of the regular ones started bursting from other vents and even the windows broke from the constant barrages, letting more of them in! I ran to the other car where it seemed a little less hectic. Spiders were still hitting the windows, but they hadn’t broken them yet. I noticed that there was a large bar here with a lot of cooking equipment behind it. Man, fuck the high life.
I made my way across the car just to stop and take a look outside the windows to see the city below. It was really hard to make it out in between all the fuzz. My attention was soon brought to a sound like metal bending. It resonated above me and a part of the ceiling caved in! The lights flickered a bit before focusing again as I saw a big mother fucker in front of me! This spider almost reached the ceiling with it’s immense size! I looked at the pistol and shook my head, pumping every last round I could before being whacked backwards by one of it’s long legs!
I was thrown against the wall near a seat, my head making contact and dazing me for a few seconds! I tried to shake it off as I felt something heavy fall upon my legs. I tried to prepare myself before my vision came back to see the beast that was stepping on me, but it wasn’t there yet. It was dinking around with the kitchen appliances. I looked at the thing that fell on my legs and it was a long case, like for an instrument or something. I undid the latches and I was ecstatic to see that it was my second guess! A chrome, 12 Gauge shotgun just ready to be pumped!
I swiped the weapon out of it’s case and whistled to the spider, “You hungry?!”
It turned back to me and hissed before it’s face was turned into mashed potatoes by two different hails of led! The beast tried to swipe at me with it’s legs again, but the ammunition buried inside its head had blinded it as I delivered another shot that sent it to the ground. I stepped on the creature to deliver one final blow before heading to the door to the other car.
Locked! I thought about shooting the handle, but remembered just how dangerous that was. Soon, I got another idea as I looked at the hole in the roof that had been spitting little spiders into this room, seeming not to care about me. I was thinking, possible ricochet, or a hail of spiders? Well, I decided that I’d show these assholes what I think of my fears and climbed on the big, fat bastard to get on top of the speeding train. The creatures batted against my body as I slowly made my way across the roof, thinking that my cockiness was probably not the right thing to listen to.
But I finally made it to a sun roof above the next car and fired a shell through the glass before dropping down. Three shells left if my judgment on the model was right. But just my luck, I saw the door to the conductor’s room ahead of me and broke into a sprint! I bursted into the room and tried to decipher the controls before noticing that the hail of spiders was beginning to die down.
I looked outside the window and noticed as the it cleared up, I could see an end to the monorail track. The only problem is that I didn’t see anything ahead of it or below it. As the train made it past that threshold, I felt my body lift into the air as the vehicle lurched downward and crashed into what seemed to be water! I smashed against the windshield and laid on it as the train descended into that black sea.
I began to quickly realize through the pain of my back that this sea was full of something. Large, spindly, hairless arachnids swam and bunched up against the window. I also saw that my back had cracked the glass I landed on. The cracks grew bigger and bigger and all I could think of next was pumping my shotgun.
Then it ended. It ended in the blink of an eye just like last time and I saw the two dirt bags in front of me.
Mike said, “I think we’re gettin’ somewhere Gen.”
Log 5
“You’re probably wondering why we’re doing this,” Gen stated.
We were both still in the chairs and my Dad seemed to be passed out or something.
“I don’t give a fuck! What’s wrong with my Dad?! His leg… you did something to it! I know you did!” I yelled at them, trying to break free of my restraints.
“Don’t worry about him. He’s obviously not going ta make it past the final test,” Mike said.
I shouted, “You mother fucker!”
I suddenly felt the cold steel against my neck once more as Gen said, close to my face, “It was my fault, but the geezer’s built like an Ox. He should’ve been able to match up with you very easily.”
Mike then said, “The whole point of tis process is to eliminate all fear in a human being. Our boss has been searching for a long time for what kind o’ procedure that can rid a human of that weakness. We’ve gotten different results from different subjects, but yours are remarkable.”
“That comes with a tour of duty asshole,” I snarled at him.
Mike explained, “Oh, it’s not a matter of the person. Well, it is, but it isn’t. We’re not looking for a type of person to get results from. We’re trying to replicate the result that works the best. You see, people don’t usually pass these simulations because of how well they emulate a person’s fears. We want to make the perfect simulation for anyone to be able to undertake and pass, to rid them of their fears. We take that simulation, change it up a little for different subjects and let them eliminate it through success. Basically we’re selling a product anyone can enjoy.”
“You’re going to train someone to be fearless through something that’s fake?” I asked with a doubtful tone.
Mike smiled, “Your military uses simulations as well.”
I laughed, “Yeah, and even those don’t prepare a soldier for the real thing.”
“We believe our technology is better than anything your Government’s been working on.”
I shook my head, “Now you just sound like a business man.”
Mike finally frowned and grumbled, “Get ‘em out o’ ‘ere.”
Gen grabbed a gun and lead me out of the room and back to my cell. She tossed my Dad in next and was about to close the door when I walked up to her.
She pointed the gun at me and said, “Back up.”
I said, “Can I use the bathroom?”
She huffed and lead me to one of the only other two rooms which was the restroom. I sat down on the toilet and noticed her still there.
“Privacy?” I asked.
“Not for you,” she looked bored, loosely holding the pistol in her hand.
“Gen!” Mike yelled from the testing room.
“What?!” Gen yelled back, still looking at me.
“I need yer help! Damn computer’s too smart for me old brain!”
She sighed heavily, “I need to watch the subject!”
“Well give ‘em some privacy, okay?! I need yer help!”
She just looked in the direction of the testing room and then back at me before rolling her eyes and closing the door to go help. I got up off of the toilet and looked around for something that might’ve been useful. The room was pretty barren aside from the mirror and toilet. It seemed like the cleaning supplies would be in the only room I hadn’t been in yet which I figured was an office.
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
If I broke the mirror then it was going to be too obvious.
Fuck my life, we’re never getting out of here! That’s what I thought as Mike opened the door and I saw my Dad next to him, looking like absolute shit.
“He needs to go too,” Mike said.
I got off of the toilet, having not even dropped my pants at any moment during this, and stepped out of the room. Just as I made it halfway to our room, I heard a loud, wailing scream in the bathroom and ran back to it! I saw my Dad thrashing all over the floor in the bathroom, Mike trying to hold him still and I noticed the mirror in the room was smashed! I saw just at the threshold a thin, sharp and pointy piece of glass lying there and I quickly picked it up to put it in my pocket before Mike turned to me.
He yelled, “Gen! He’s failing! Help me get this big hunk o’ shit to his room!”
“No!” I yelled, grabbing my Dad by the legs, “He’s my Dad, I’m gonna make sure he’s alright!”
My Dad seemed to calm a bit from my touch and Mike groaned, “Fine!” We got him into our room, laying him down on the bed before Mike said, “Enjoy your last moments.”
He slammed and locked the door closed as I stayed by my Father’s side.
“Dad, Dad!” I tried to settle his convulsing body, “Derek, come on! What’s wrong with you?!”
His skin was becoming bloated somehow. It seemed to move in random spots, but I couldn’t even concentrate on that!
Then he said something while trying to restrain himself, “Daniel, buddy…” he coughed up blood and some kind of black, chunky liquid, “You were a good kid. I disciplined you well. I mean-” he hacked up more, “I’m sorry for all the times I spanked you. All the times I sent you to the corner for being the little doofus you always were. But I meant it in kind.”
“I know, Dad,” I said to him, my face feeling hot and wet.
“Thing is, it made you into a total bad ass. I know that you know that, but I want to make sure you recognise where you got it from,” He said with a smile as blood trickled down his cheek.
“Dad… just- just calm down. You’ll be fine!” I yelled, my vision becoming blurry.
“No, Danny. Just know that you can beat these fucks. I built you that way. Show them how great you are!” he started to yell and scream.
He screamed for the last moments of his life as his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Shortly after that, the bandage he had on the whole time that was now sopping with blood broke as hundreds of little spiders crawled out of the cut! The tiny arachnids burst from his mouth and ears and I backed away, screaming, barely able to see through the tears.
Gen came barging in with two cans of bug spray and started to defile my Dad’s body with it, trying to kill the little fucks. I sat on the floor, my mind completely blank as I felt something fall out of my pocket. It was the glass, of course it was. I gripped it hard, cutting my hand and stood up, stalking behind the bitch. I raised my hand just a little, but immediately withdrew it to hide it behind my back when she turned.
“Looks like you’re not sleeping tonight, buddy,” She said.
The nickname stung. Made me want to claw her eyes out and pour black tar into them. But I loosened my grip on the glass.
I then said, “Let’s finish these tests.”
Log 6
They sat me down in the chair for what I knew even then was the last time. Mike got on his computer while Gen strapped me in, headset and all.
“Ya ready, pal?” she asks, the headset inches above my head.
I breathed in, then out, “I’m finishing this.”
She smiled a cheekish smile, “Sure ya are, honey.”
I kept my composure and let the darkness overtake me. Then it was cold. It was freezing! It was still dark, but I could make out a few things that were near me. I was lying on the ground and saw that I was in a pile of snow. I could also hear the sound of wind in the air. Concentration was getting difficult. The overwhelming darkness. The stinging cold. And there! I heard something! A branch snapping! I rolled myself up into the fetal position, I was so lost and out of my wits.
Cold…
Cold…
Closer…
I needed to do something. I was taught this, I knew what to do! I sat up, realizing that I was completely naked. My body was sopping wet from the snow and I knew I didn’t have long before I froze to death. And the thing out there… Jesus, I hoped fire would scare it away. I ran through this dark forest, the wind eating at my flesh and beating me down and saw a plain spot! Not much snow! I just needed to-
-I saw it. The thing moving around in the woods. All that was visible were it’s white, glowing eyes and a faint outline of an almost anorexic looking figure. It was like the thing hadn’t eaten in years. It’s arms were as thin as branches, same with the legs. The torso wasn’t much better off. Although I couldn’t make out any sign of bone structure showing through the flesh. It was almost like I was staring at a living stick figure of sorts.
Then the body began to expand. It’s body blended with the darkness and the eyes grew larger and larger, staring me down! I quivered in horror as my knees began to buckle. My hope was draining and my legs hit the cold dirt.
GIVE IN
It spoke to me. The voices weren’t directly coming at me. It was in my thoughts. My very soul. I began to succumb to the darkness. I went back into that fetal position and began crying uncontrollably. The world around me was no longer just barely visible. I was now in a void of nothingness.
And I had fallen into man’s first fear.
Eternal darkness.
Then I noticed something. The air conditioning. The rise in temperature. I was back in the room. No one said anything. I just sat there quietly with my face still hot.
Then Gen took the headset off, saying, “Aw, wittle baby afraid of the dark?”
I began to breathe heavily in anger whilst Mike spoke up behind his computer, “Looks like our lil’ trick didn’t work after all.”
I simmered down a bit, “What trick?”
Gen said with a laugh, “Oh, well your Dad wasn’t much use to us. Although, fearless old people would be fantastic, youngins are what we’re really after for our end goal. We thought the anger sparked from losing yer dad would give you a drive. Aw well. We’re just gonna have ta push ya harder.”
She began to unstrap my almost limp body, my entire being at a loss for words.
She undid the arm straps and was about to pick me up when I blurted out, “Hey, Mike. You done looking at your porn over there?”
Mike snuffed, “Ah, fack you!”
Then Gen turned around to the fat, Scottish bastard to laugh and say, “Not like it’s the first time I caught ya. Gets lonely down here, huh pal?”
Mike was gonna make his own snarky remark back to her. They were gonna have a laugh and go about their day with their sick little plans. But all of that was ruined when I brought the piece of glass to Gen’s throat and dragged it across hard. She didn’t even get to scream with how fast I did it. Just a gurgle and a few buckets of blood spilling on the floor and she was out.
Mike went wide eyed and sprinted out of the room. I chased after him as he went into the only room I hadn’t entered yet. Inside was exactly what I thought. An office, a bunk bed for the two sleaze balls and a refrigerator, microwave and a toaster oven with some kitchen appliances. What really caught my eye was another door! I knew it was the exit, but I needed to worry about the other thing I had just noticed. It was Mike. Big, angry and pointing a shotgun right at me! I just managed to get out of the doorframe when the blast came hurtling at me!
I ran back to the testing room, locked the door and grabbed a huge knife out of Gen’s belt before standing right next to the door. I knew that he’d try the door. He did. I knew he’d unlock it the only way an angry Scottish bastard would. Shooting the damn lock off. He came crashing through and I jumped on his back, trying to bring the knife down on his neck too!
He swung me around though and my aim was off as I only managed to stab him in the shoulder! He threw the gun on the ground and reached around to grab me with both of his beefy hands as he threw me to the ground! He pulled out the knife whilst letting out an immense and powerful cry while I went for the gun. He then kicked it away and brought the blade down upon me, but not before I rolled out of the way. His mighty force snapped the blade in two, rendering it useless. Gen didn’t bring her extra knives today.
I tried to crawl to the shotgun, but then felt a mighty blow against my ribs! Mike kicked me over and over again until I was lying there, useless and coughing up blood. He walked over to pick up the shotgun as I attempted to get back up, only managing to flail my arms around in a weak manner. But then I felt it. My hand landed on Gen’s pants pocket and I felt a tiny bulge in it! I dug through the thing to find a swiss army knife.
I unsheathed the tiny, but graceful blade and hid it as Mike came over to me with the shotgun in hand.
“What a waste,” he uttered before lining up the sights.
I smirked and hocked a big clump of blood at his face, blinding him before I rammed the tiny blade into his thigh, bringing out a new cry from the big man.
I then tackled him down and straddled him before saying, “Looks like your spark worked afterall.”
And in the next few moments, you wouldn’t imagine how hard it was to cut a fat neck with a tiny little blade.
Final Log
The door I found in the office was the way out. When I got out I found myself inside a house out in the country amongst rows of trees. The place was a little underground bunker just below it. It wasn’t very far from the original hospital either. When I got my bearings and all my shit back on track, reuniting with my loved ones and get settled back into my job, only then was I comfortable enough to call the authorities about it.
When they got there, there was nothing left. Everything was cleaned out of the bunker and they found out that it was owned by a family on vacation. I told them it was all bullshit and that it tied to the events that happened last year. They pushed it aside though. They said none of it correlated back to the St. Matthias Hospital events.
I made sure that they weren’t involved with these people either. Like the police themselves were involved with this group. I took one last trip to that horrid place, making sure no one was in the house and picking the lock open. I made it into the bunker below after seeing no one around and they were right. The whole place was cleaned up and looked like it was mostly used for stock that the owners kept down there.
I even went to the cell where my Dad’s missing, unretrieved body that my entire family mourned over an empty casket for was nowhere to be seen. The bunk was still there. I fell over, bawling my eyes out. Then, when I looked up to wipe away my tears, I saw under the bottom bunk a host of webs and spiders.
Author’s Note
Byron here. Just wanted to say that Luna and I are happy to announce that we’re starting to self-publish on Amazon. It’ll mostly serve as a way to support us, but we’ll try to keep as much of our writings as free as possible to be read on this blog unless we just magically start getting publisher deals. Thank you all and we hope to bring you new and great stories. This re-post/compilation was just to organize the whole story and announce this whole thing.
The Book
https://goo.gl/hPchq3
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TEST DRIVE: 2017 MINI Cooper SD Countryman ALL4 with Autohome Tent Review
I still remember the way the press and enthusiasts altogether reacted when MINI took the veils off the latest Countryman. Even though the BMW-owned brand started a new marketing campaign before the crossover was unveiled, to prepare the collective mind to the idea of a bigger than ever model, most people were still disappointed and couldn’t get their heads around it. Today, a few months after the unveil, the decision to increase the Countryman’s size so much is starting to make sense.
The reason why the British brand went down this road in the first place was because that’s what customers were asking for. If you have a friend that owns a MINI you probably already know that he or she loves the car for the way it drives/looks/sounds, and at the same time complains about the space it offers. That being said, the new Countryman aims to fix those quirks offering the space of a compact SUV with the driving experience of a MINI Cooper.
This is where the Countryman really steps in. Built atop the new UKL front-wheel drive platform developed by BMW, the biggest MINI ever made is now sharing its underpinnings, engines are gearbox choices with the BMW X1. And while the X1 might seem like the bigger and more practical choice, the Countryman counters with its style, chic interior and clever details, while still offering a decent amount of space for its occupants.
Exterior and Interior
It’s true though, the X1 does seem a noticeably bigger but when taking a closer look at the specs of the two cars, you might be surprised. The difference between the two is almost negligible and that’s exactly what you feel once you get inside the MINI. To be more precise, while the width of the two is exactly the same and the X1 is taller by just 1.5 inches, the BMW is also longer by 5 inches. However, when it comes to the room you get inside, the two feel almost identical while the X1 has just 50 liters of extra storage space in the boot with the seats up, compared to the Countryman’s 450 liters.
That storage space can drastically change though as the Countryman can be fitted with rear seats which can slide forward and have their backrest angle adjusted. Folding them will offer you up to 1,390 liters which means you can store a lot of stuff inside it. Compared to the old one, the changes are remarkable, as it used to offer between 350 and 1170 liters of boot space.
But that’s not the only thing that changed. While the exterior design remained equally attractive, with an evolutionary design more than anything else, the interior’s quality has gone up. The big center speedometer is gone and instead, just like every other new MINI out there, we now have the infotainment screen which, for the first time, comes with a touch-sensitive screen for more convenience. Since the infotainment controller was positioned quite unfortunately on the center console right next to the armrest, it’s a welcome upgrade by all means.
The features of the MINI Connected system have also been upgraded and now resemble the newest BMW iDrive system in terms of menus, submenus and functionality. The animations have also been improved making quite an impression on myself and the occupants of the cars when they first noticed it, having clean designs which are easy to understand and use. To top everything off, the Head-Up display comes in handy and there’s even a button on the dash allowing you to turn it on or off, if you decide you don’t need it.
Speaking of buttons, the cabin remains a typical MINI environment, decked with toggle switches everywhere and offering plenty of customizing choices for the customers. The one that you notice immediately is one big piece sitting between the infotainment screen, top part of the dash and the start button. It’s a big trim piece which can be had in a variety of choices. In the case of our tester, it was beige with black stripes and it came alive at night, having blue and red LEDs behind it, giving a rather special feel altogether. Definitely a nice touch by MINI.
The headrests also sported the Union Jack motif, while the steering wheel came straight from the John Cooper Works catalogue. In terms of leg and headroom, the changes compared to the previous Countryman are more than noticeable, four adults being absolutely comfortable in the MINI now, even if they are over 6-feet tall, both up front and in the back.
The Engine
In this regard, the Countryman once again seems to follow in the footsteps of the BMW X1, but there’s more to it. Under the hood of our tester hid a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel mill otherwise known around the BMW Group grounds by the B47 codename. This engine is now being used not only on UKL-based cars such as the MINI range and the BMW 2 Series Active and Gran Tourers, but also on the facelifted version of the 3 Series, the 2 Series and even on the new 5 Series.
In Cooper SD guise, the aforementioned engine develops 190 HP and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque, numbers which proved to be good enough for the G30 5er so why wouldn’t they be for the Countryman as well, right? Well, while on the 520d BMW made sure to isolate the sounds coming out from under the hood as much as possible, in the case of the MINI the mill does feel rather gruff and rough around the edges.
It’s well balanced but the sound it makes does protrude quite easily inside the cabin. While the 8-speed Aisin-sourced gearbox changes gears in a hurry to keep fuel consumption low, whenever you go over 2,000 RPM, the sound of the diesel engine makes itself heard and it doesn’t really suit the character of the MINI as a whole.
Nevertheless, the Cooper D and Cooper SD models appeal to those looking for a more practical choice from the MINI range. As a matter of fact, the Countryman as a model was developed to appeal to those faithful customers who used to own a hatch and now need more space for their young families. Therefore, the fact that a diesel engine is a bit noisier than a petrol alternative shouldn’t surprise anyone and those wanting a more efficient cruiser should know about these downsides before committing to buy.
On the performance spec sheet, the Countryman is also faster than the X1 xDrive20d model, reaching 100 km/h (62 mph) from standstill in 7.4 seconds when fitted with the ALL4 all-wheel drive system as our tested had. The sprint is not back breaking and, to be honest, the car doesn’t feel that fast but the numbers don’t lie, we put them to the test and the claims from Oxford were right on par with what our stopwatch showed.
The ALL4 system is also quite capable offroad but you won’t get to put it to the test too often anyway. That’s because of the low ground clearance of the Countryman of just 165 mm (6.5 inches). Sure, you can go for some mild off-roading, taking on some mountain roads and shallow water but that’s about it. Truth be told, you’d probably also end up feeling sorry if you took the car off paved roads as we did, as we felt like it was just a pointless exercise.
ALL4 might also appeal to those living in places where it snows all the time and in the snow the system does handle itself quite nicely as we found out earlier this year. Get a set of winter tires as well and you’ll be able to plow through some serious snow thanks to the massive amounts of torque available from down low.
Out on the road, the MINI Cooper SD Countryman handles itself quite nicely, carving canyon roads with eagerness and in a composed way, without any abrupt mood swings when changing direction on the fly. It keeps its composure but we wouldn’t invoke the famous ‘go kart feeling’ when describing how it feels on the road. Maybe it’s due to the diesel engine or the weight, but it does lean into corners more than you’d expect from a MINI. Then again, at close to 1.6 tons, what would you expect? Maybe the JCW Countryman should be your choice if you want to race down a curvy mountain road.
Around town the Countryman feels at home, with a fast steering rack that helps you navigate busy city streets and park this generous crossover into tight parking spaces. The car comes with parking sensors as standard and they will come in handy as the rear visibility isn’t this car’s forte. Around town we also saw the fuel consumption go up to 10 l/100 km (23.5 mpg) whereas outside the city limits it dropped to around 7 l/100 km (33.6 mpg), good numbers but not even close to the claims. Luckily for me, I did spend most of my time with the car out of town, making the most of the best optional feature the car came with, an Autohome roof tent.
Autohome Roof Tent
When MINI initially announced its collaboration with Italian roof tent manufacturer, Autohome, I was rather taken aback, initially thinking that nobody in their right mind would even consider such an option. And yet, it took just a weekend with such a combination to make me change my mind.
The Autohome roof tent is possibly the perfect solution for a couple or even young families that love to travel and camp in the middle of nature. Made out of Airtex and fiberglass, it is heat-resistant, remains cool, insulates, it is sturdy and easy to repair, if the occasion rises. The base of the tent has a 20 mm insulation and four handles to allow you to install it on the roof of your car as easily as possible. It also comes with a very comfortable mattress and two pillows.
The best bit about this tent is the fact that it can be so easily opened and closed. To raise it, all you have to do is unhook its three clamps, two at the front and one at the back. After that, since the tent comes with four gas springs, it will automatically raise by itself to a total height of 94 cm (37 inches). The length of the tent is 210 cm (83 inches) and it is 130 cm (51 inches) wide, accommodating two adults, easily.
Upon opening it you get two doors with an inner sealing, one on each side and 2 windows, one up front and one in the back. All of them come with mosquito netting. Inside the tent you’ll also find an LED lamp as well as plenty of storage pockets that really come in handy at night. Folding the roof back is just as easy as opening it as all you have to do is pull on it and it will fold right down.
Having spent a couple of nights with it, in the middle of the Carpathian Mountains I can tel
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TEST DRIVE: 2017 MINI Cooper SD Countryman ALL4 with Autohome Tent Review
I still remember the way the press and enthusiasts altogether reacted when MINI took the veils off the latest Countryman. Even though the BMW-owned brand started a new marketing campaign before the crossover was unveiled, to prepare the collective mind to the idea of a bigger than ever model, most people were still disappointed and couldn’t get their heads around it. Today, a few months after the unveil, the decision to increase the Countryman’s size so much is starting to make sense.
The reason why the British brand went down this road in the first place was because that’s what customers were asking for. If you have a friend that owns a MINI you probably already know that he or she loves the car for the way it drives/looks/sounds, and at the same time complains about the space it offers. That being said, the new Countryman aims to fix those quirks offering the space of a compact SUV with the driving experience of a MINI Cooper.
This is where the Countryman really steps in. Built atop the new UKL front-wheel drive platform developed by BMW, the biggest MINI ever made is now sharing its underpinnings, engines are gearbox choices with the BMW X1. And while the X1 might seem like the bigger and more practical choice, the Countryman counters with its style, chic interior and clever details, while still offering a decent amount of space for its occupants.
Exterior and Interior
It’s true though, the X1 does seem a noticeably bigger but when taking a closer look at the specs of the two cars, you might be surprised. The difference between the two is almost negligible and that’s exactly what you feel once you get inside the MINI. To be more precise, while the width of the two is exactly the same and the X1 is taller by just 1.5 inches, the BMW is also longer by 5 inches. However, when it comes to the room you get inside, the two feel almost identical while the X1 has just 50 liters of extra storage space in the boot with the seats up, compared to the Countryman’s 450 liters.
That storage space can drastically change though as the Countryman can be fitted with rear seats which can slide forward and have their backrest angle adjusted. Folding them will offer you up to 1,390 liters which means you can store a lot of stuff inside it. Compared to the old one, the changes are remarkable, as it used to offer between 350 and 1170 liters of boot space.
But that’s not the only thing that changed. While the exterior design remained equally attractive, with an evolutionary design more than anything else, the interior’s quality has gone up. The big center speedometer is gone and instead, just like every other new MINI out there, we now have the infotainment screen which, for the first time, comes with a touch-sensitive screen for more convenience. Since the infotainment controller was positioned quite unfortunately on the center console right next to the armrest, it’s a welcome upgrade by all means.
The features of the MINI Connected system have also been upgraded and now resemble the newest BMW iDrive system in terms of menus, submenus and functionality. The animations have also been improved making quite an impression on myself and the occupants of the cars when they first noticed it, having clean designs which are easy to understand and use. To top everything off, the Head-Up display comes in handy and there’s even a button on the dash allowing you to turn it on or off, if you decide you don’t need it.
Speaking of buttons, the cabin remains a typical MINI environment, decked with toggle switches everywhere and offering plenty of customizing choices for the customers. The one that you notice immediately is one big piece sitting between the infotainment screen, top part of the dash and the start button. It’s a big trim piece which can be had in a variety of choices. In the case of our tester, it was beige with black stripes and it came alive at night, having blue and red LEDs behind it, giving a rather special feel altogether. Definitely a nice touch by MINI.
The headrests also sported the Union Jack motif, while the steering wheel came straight from the John Cooper Works catalogue. In terms of leg and headroom, the changes compared to the previous Countryman are more than noticeable, four adults being absolutely comfortable in the MINI now, even if they are over 6-feet tall, both up front and in the back.
The Engine
In this regard, the Countryman once again seems to follow in the footsteps of the BMW X1, but there’s more to it. Under the hood of our tester hid a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel mill otherwise known around the BMW Group grounds by the B47 codename. This engine is now being used not only on UKL-based cars such as the MINI range and the BMW 2 Series Active and Gran Tourers, but also on the facelifted version of the 3 Series, the 2 Series and even on the new 5 Series.
In Cooper SD guise, the aforementioned engine develops 190 HP and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque, numbers which proved to be good enough for the G30 5er so why wouldn’t they be for the Countryman as well, right? Well, while on the 520d BMW made sure to isolate the sounds coming out from under the hood as much as possible, in the case of the MINI the mill does feel rather gruff and rough around the edges.
It’s well balanced but the sound it makes does protrude quite easily inside the cabin. While the 8-speed Aisin-sourced gearbox changes gears in a hurry to keep fuel consumption low, whenever you go over 2,000 RPM, the sound of the diesel engine makes itself heard and it doesn’t really suit the character of the MINI as a whole.
Nevertheless, the Cooper D and Cooper SD models appeal to those looking for a more practical choice from the MINI range. As a matter of fact, the Countryman as a model was developed to appeal to those faithful customers who used to own a hatch and now need more space for their young families. Therefore, the fact that a diesel engine is a bit noisier than a petrol alternative shouldn’t surprise anyone and those wanting a more efficient cruiser should know about these downsides before committing to buy.
On the performance spec sheet, the Countryman is also faster than the X1 xDrive20d model, reaching 100 km/h (62 mph) from standstill in 7.4 seconds when fitted with the ALL4 all-wheel drive system as our tested had. The sprint is not back breaking and, to be honest, the car doesn’t feel that fast but the numbers don’t lie, we put them to the test and the claims from Oxford were right on par with what our stopwatch showed.
The ALL4 system is also quite capable offroad but you won’t get to put it to the test too often anyway. That’s because of the low ground clearance of the Countryman of just 165 mm (6.5 inches). Sure, you can go for some mild off-roading, taking on some mountain roads and shallow water but that’s about it. Truth be told, you’d probably also end up feeling sorry if you took the car off paved roads as we did, as we felt like it was just a pointless exercise.
ALL4 might also appeal to those living in places where it snows all the time and in the snow the system does handle itself quite nicely as we found out earlier this year. Get a set of winter tires as well and you’ll be able to plow through some serious snow thanks to the massive amounts of torque available from down low.
Out on the road, the MINI Cooper SD Countryman handles itself quite nicely, carving canyon roads with eagerness and in a composed way, without any abrupt mood swings when changing direction on the fly. It keeps its composure but we wouldn’t invoke the famous ‘go kart feeling’ when describing how it feels on the road. Maybe it’s due to the diesel engine or the weight, but it does lean into corners more than you’d expect from a MINI. Then again, at close to 1.6 tons, what would you expect? Maybe the JCW Countryman should be your choice if you want to race down a curvy mountain road.
Around town the Countryman feels at home, with a fast steering rack that helps you navigate busy city streets and park this generous crossover into tight parking spaces. The car comes with parking sensors as standard and they will come in handy as the rear visibility isn’t this car’s forte. Around town we also saw the fuel consumption go up to 10 l/100 km (23.5 mpg) whereas outside the city limits it dropped to around 7 l/100 km (33.6 mpg), good numbers but not even close to the claims. Luckily for me, I did spend most of my time with the car out of town, making the most of the best optional feature the car came with, an Autohome roof tent.
Autohome Roof Tent
When MINI initially announced its collaboration with Italian roof tent manufacturer, Autohome, I was rather taken aback, initially thinking that nobody in their right mind would even consider such an option. And yet, it took just a weekend with such a combination to make me change my mind.
The Autohome roof tent is possibly the perfect solution for a couple or even young families that love to travel and camp in the middle of nature. Made out of Airtex and fiberglass, it is heat-resistant, remains cool, insulates, it is sturdy and easy to repair, if the occasion rises. The base of the tent has a 20 mm insulation and four handles to allow you to install it on the roof of your car as easily as possible. It also comes with a very comfortable mattress and two pillows.
The best bit about this tent is the fact that it can be so easily opened and closed. To raise it, all you have to do is unhook its three clamps, two at the front and one at the back. After that, since the tent comes with four gas springs, it will automatically raise by itself to a total height of 94 cm (37 inches). The length of the tent is 210 cm (83 inches) and it is 130 cm (51 inches) wide, accommodating two adults, easily.
Upon opening it you get two doors with an inner sealing, one on each side and 2 windows, one up front and one in the back. All of them come with mosquito netting. Inside the tent you’ll also find an LED lamp as well as plenty of storage pockets that really come in handy at night. Folding the roof back is just as easy as opening it as all you have to do is pull on it and it will fold right down.
Having spent a couple of nights with it, in the middle of the Carpathian Mountains I can tel
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TEST DRIVE: 2017 MINI Cooper SD Countryman ALL4 with Autohome Tent Review
I still remember the way the press and enthusiasts altogether reacted when MINI took the veils off the latest Countryman. Even though the BMW-owned brand started a new marketing campaign before the crossover was unveiled, to prepare the collective mind to the idea of a bigger than ever model, most people were still disappointed and couldn’t get their heads around it. Today, a few months after the unveil, the decision to increase the Countryman’s size so much is starting to make sense.
The reason why the British brand went down this road in the first place was because that’s what customers were asking for. If you have a friend that owns a MINI you probably already know that he or she loves the car for the way it drives/looks/sounds, and at the same time complains about the space it offers. That being said, the new Countryman aims to fix those quirks offering the space of a compact SUV with the driving experience of a MINI Cooper.
This is where the Countryman really steps in. Built atop the new UKL front-wheel drive platform developed by BMW, the biggest MINI ever made is now sharing its underpinnings, engines are gearbox choices with the BMW X1. And while the X1 might seem like the bigger and more practical choice, the Countryman counters with its style, chic interior and clever details, while still offering a decent amount of space for its occupants.
Exterior and Interior
It’s true though, the X1 does seem a noticeably bigger but when taking a closer look at the specs of the two cars, you might be surprised. The difference between the two is almost negligible and that’s exactly what you feel once you get inside the MINI. To be more precise, while the width of the two is exactly the same and the X1 is taller by just 1.5 inches, the BMW is also longer by 5 inches. However, when it comes to the room you get inside, the two feel almost identical while the X1 has just 50 liters of extra storage space in the boot with the seats up, compared to the Countryman’s 450 liters.
That storage space can drastically change though as the Countryman can be fitted with rear seats which can slide forward and have their backrest angle adjusted. Folding them will offer you up to 1,390 liters which means you can store a lot of stuff inside it. Compared to the old one, the changes are remarkable, as it used to offer between 350 and 1170 liters of boot space.
But that’s not the only thing that changed. While the exterior design remained equally attractive, with an evolutionary design more than anything else, the interior’s quality has gone up. The big center speedometer is gone and instead, just like every other new MINI out there, we now have the infotainment screen which, for the first time, comes with a touch-sensitive screen for more convenience. Since the infotainment controller was positioned quite unfortunately on the center console right next to the armrest, it’s a welcome upgrade by all means.
The features of the MINI Connected system have also been upgraded and now resemble the newest BMW iDrive system in terms of menus, submenus and functionality. The animations have also been improved making quite an impression on myself and the occupants of the cars when they first noticed it, having clean designs which are easy to understand and use. To top everything off, the Head-Up display comes in handy and there’s even a button on the dash allowing you to turn it on or off, if you decide you don’t need it.
Speaking of buttons, the cabin remains a typical MINI environment, decked with toggle switches everywhere and offering plenty of customizing choices for the customers. The one that you notice immediately is one big piece sitting between the infotainment screen, top part of the dash and the start button. It’s a big trim piece which can be had in a variety of choices. In the case of our tester, it was beige with black stripes and it came alive at night, having blue and red LEDs behind it, giving a rather special feel altogether. Definitely a nice touch by MINI.
The headrests also sported the Union Jack motif, while the steering wheel came straight from the John Cooper Works catalogue. In terms of leg and headroom, the changes compared to the previous Countryman are more than noticeable, four adults being absolutely comfortable in the MINI now, even if they are over 6-feet tall, both up front and in the back.
The Engine
In this regard, the Countryman once again seems to follow in the footsteps of the BMW X1, but there’s more to it. Under the hood of our tester hid a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel mill otherwise known around the BMW Group grounds by the B47 codename. This engine is now being used not only on UKL-based cars such as the MINI range and the BMW 2 Series Active and Gran Tourers, but also on the facelifted version of the 3 Series, the 2 Series and even on the new 5 Series.
In Cooper SD guise, the aforementioned engine develops 190 HP and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque, numbers which proved to be good enough for the G30 5er so why wouldn’t they be for the Countryman as well, right? Well, while on the 520d BMW made sure to isolate the sounds coming out from under the hood as much as possible, in the case of the MINI the mill does feel rather gruff and rough around the edges.
It’s well balanced but the sound it makes does protrude quite easily inside the cabin. While the 8-speed Aisin-sourced gearbox changes gears in a hurry to keep fuel consumption low, whenever you go over 2,000 RPM, the sound of the diesel engine makes itself heard and it doesn’t really suit the character of the MINI as a whole.
Nevertheless, the Cooper D and Cooper SD models appeal to those looking for a more practical choice from the MINI range. As a matter of fact, the Countryman as a model was developed to appeal to those faithful customers who used to own a hatch and now need more space for their young families. Therefore, the fact that a diesel engine is a bit noisier than a petrol alternative shouldn’t surprise anyone and those wanting a more efficient cruiser should know about these downsides before committing to buy.
On the performance spec sheet, the Countryman is also faster than the X1 xDrive20d model, reaching 100 km/h (62 mph) from standstill in 7.4 seconds when fitted with the ALL4 all-wheel drive system as our tested had. The sprint is not back breaking and, to be honest, the car doesn’t feel that fast but the numbers don’t lie, we put them to the test and the claims from Oxford were right on par with what our stopwatch showed.
The ALL4 system is also quite capable offroad but you won’t get to put it to the test too often anyway. That’s because of the low ground clearance of the Countryman of just 165 mm (6.5 inches). Sure, you can go for some mild off-roading, taking on some mountain roads and shallow water but that’s about it. Truth be told, you’d probably also end up feeling sorry if you took the car off paved roads as we did, as we felt like it was just a pointless exercise.
ALL4 might also appeal to those living in places where it snows all the time and in the snow the system does handle itself quite nicely as we found out earlier this year. Get a set of winter tires as well and you’ll be able to plow through some serious snow thanks to the massive amounts of torque available from down low.
Out on the road, the MINI Cooper SD Countryman handles itself quite nicely, carving canyon roads with eagerness and in a composed way, without any abrupt mood swings when changing direction on the fly. It keeps its composure but we wouldn’t invoke the famous ‘go kart feeling’ when describing how it feels on the road. Maybe it’s due to the diesel engine or the weight, but it does lean into corners more than you’d expect from a MINI. Then again, at close to 1.6 tons, what would you expect? Maybe the JCW Countryman should be your choice if you want to race down a curvy mountain road.
Around town the Countryman feels at home, with a fast steering rack that helps you navigate busy city streets and park this generous crossover into tight parking spaces. The car comes with parking sensors as standard and they will come in handy as the rear visibility isn’t this car’s forte. Around town we also saw the fuel consumption go up to 10 l/100 km (23.5 mpg) whereas outside the city limits it dropped to around 7 l/100 km (33.6 mpg), good numbers but not even close to the claims. Luckily for me, I did spend most of my time with the car out of town, making the most of the best optional feature the car came with, an Autohome roof tent.
Autohome Roof Tent
When MINI initially announced its collaboration with Italian roof tent manufacturer, Autohome, I was rather taken aback, initially thinking that nobody in their right mind would even consider such an option. And yet, it took just a weekend with such a combination to make me change my mind.
The Autohome roof tent is possibly the perfect solution for a couple or even young families that love to travel and camp in the middle of nature. Made out of Airtex and fiberglass, it is heat-resistant, remains cool, insulates, it is sturdy and easy to repair, if the occasion rises. The base of the tent has a 20 mm insulation and four handles to allow you to install it on the roof of your car as easily as possible. It also comes with a very comfortable mattress and two pillows.
The best bit about this tent is the fact that it can be so easily opened and closed. To raise it, all you have to do is unhook its three clamps, two at the front and one at the back. After that, since the tent comes with four gas springs, it will automatically raise by itself to a total height of 94 cm (37 inches). The length of the tent is 210 cm (83 inches) and it is 130 cm (51 inches) wide, accommodating two adults, easily.
Upon opening it you get two doors with an inner sealing, one on each side and 2 windows, one up front and one in the back. All of them come with mosquito netting. Inside the tent you’ll also find an LED lamp as well as plenty of storage pockets that really come in handy at night. Folding the roof back is just as easy as opening it as all you have to do is pull on it and it will fold right down.
Having spent a couple of nights with it, in the middle of the Carpathian Mountains I can tel
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Cool High Tech Gadgets To Give Your Home A Futuristic Look
High tech gadgets are becoming a part of our everyday life. Like with the mobile phone, we are starting to be addicted, depending on them for our daily actions.
As this cool technology advances, so do these gadgets that we are fond of. We are constantly amazed by the new concepts created by young and ambitious designers.
These innovations appear from a necessity of solving the problems that old products have. Besides new and improved functions, they also come with a beautiful design.
Withings Thermo – Smart Thermometer
Thermos is a temporal thermometer with 16 infrared sensors that provides a medically-approved measurement in 2 seconds while also synchronizing with a dedicated smartphone app to help manage fever episodes.
It is a game changer. Now a fast, simple, no-contact gesture yields the most precise temperature possible, and automatic sync with the dedicated app also allows you to track temperature readings, get reminders, and input related symptoms/medications right on your smartphone.
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Thermo is CE-cleared, making it compliant to the highest health device standards in the world. It measures from the temporal artery, considered the best place to detect temperature changes.
As Thermo sweeps across the forehead, 16 infrared sensors take over 4,000 measurements to find the hottest point. This is the revolutionary advance, and is what we call HotSpot Sensor Technology.
Unlike traditional methods, Thermo avoids any contact with saliva, earwax or other body fluids — making it the most sanitary way to take anyone’s temperature.
Yunmai Color Smart Scale
Yunmai FDA-Listed Bluetooth 4.0 Smart Scale & Body Fat Monitor – 10 Precision Body Composition Measurements – Body Fat, BMI & More. Step on the scale, and within seconds it takes 10 dierent essential health measurements, giving you comprehensive data about your health.
Body measurements are sent instantly to your smartphone each time you step on, making it easy to track weight loss and health progress.
Yunmai precisely measures Weight, Body Fat, Muscle Rate, Water, Bone Mass, Visceral Fat, BMR,BMI, Protein, Body Age. Bio-impedance sensors give you precise results, every time.
Yunmai uses BIA (bioelectric impedance analysis), which is a commonly used technology. Check with your doctor if you are preganent, or have a pacemaker, electrocardiographs and/or other medical devices before use Yunmai.
The YUNMAI 2. 0 App connects your real-time body metrics to a world of data charts, social sharing, and fitness tracking. Simply step on the scale to instantly connect your profile and begin pushing data to your app. No additional setup is required, so you can begin tracking instantly.
Withings Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor for Apple and Android
The Withings Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor simplifies the process of monitoring your blood pressure and accessing your data. Measures systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as heart rate.
Readings automatically compared to World Health Organization blood pressure standards for an easy understanding of your data. Syncs wirelessly via Bluetooth technology with iOS and Android devices. Multi-user capabilities with personalized monitoring and data for each user.
The free Withings Health Mate application offers comprehensive and streamlined data tracking. Easily share data with doctors.
Netatmo Weather Station for Smartphone
Made for iPhone & Android, made for you. The Personal Weather Station with Air Quality sensors, for iPhone & Android.
The new standard of design and technology for the Personal Weather Station. Attune your senses, and get new onesWeather and Air Quality monitoring, indoor and outdoor .Measure CO2 concentration and monitor confinement.
Get local Air Quality Index report, real-time. Improve your indoor wellness. The Netatmo Station measures indoor temperature, CO2 concentration, noise pollution and humidity in the home.
Your Netatmo station also indicates the best moment to ventilate. Get relevant info, take appropriate steps Your Netatmo Weather Station helps you decide about your activities.Receive real-time alerts.
Monitor over time, get the big picture. Discover weather patterns and cycles. A comprehensive and powerful tool to understand your living environment.
Arlo Pro Security Camera
Arlo Pro is a 100% wire-free indoor/outdoor security camera with rechargeable batteries and audio and can be added to any Arlo base station system. Arlo Pro includes rechargeable batteries, motion and sound-activated alerts, 2-way audio, a 100+ decibel siren, and 7 days of free cloud HD video recordings. Arlo covers every angle to help keep you safe and protected.
Stay in total control all the time. Whether you’re using a smartphone, tablet, TV, or computer, a click or two is all you’ll ever need to check in. The free Arlo app is available for iOS, Android, AppleTV, and web browsers.
Stop crime before it happens with 100+ decibel siren that can be controlled remotely, or when motion or sound is detected. Listen in and talk back through the built-in speaker and mic straight from your smartphone. Secure your recordings with an USB drive local backup storage option.
Aeotec by Aeon Labs ZW089 Recessed Door Sensor
The Aeotec by Aeon Labs recessed door sensor is a battery powered, Z-Wave powered, magnetic door sensor with an extremely small form factor.
Unlike existing Z-Wave door/window sensors, the recessed door sensor offers a unique, invisible installation – it’s easily installed within a doorframe meaning it avoids altering a room’s aesthetics without ever compromising on functionality.
The recessed door sensor can send Z-Wave signals to up to 5 associated devices within its own network, and does so simply when the door it’s installed within open or closes. The Aeon labs door sensor also has low-battery alerts and offers a simple method of replacing the battery.
Smart Home LED Light Bulb
Control your lights from almost anywhere in the world from the palm of your hand. The Sylvania Lightify Tunable White Bulb produces beautiful high quality light that you can tune, dim, and control from your smartphone or tablet. Easy to setup, just download the Lightify app, bulbs fit into your standard household sockets – no need for installation by an electrician. A wireless network is required to operate bulbs.
Lightify bulbs use 84% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last up to 20,000 hours making them a smart choice for energy conscious homes.
Create and store scenes. For example you can schedule to turn on the lights so you don’t come home to a dark house.
You can even set automated timers, or program the bulb to gradually increase brightness in the the morning like the sunrise for a more pleasant, natural alarm.Tunable White can make you feel better and more productive- select a natural daylight color for reading and concentration, or a soft white when it is time to relax.
All-New Echo Dot
Echo Dot (2nd Generation) is a hands-free, voice-controlled device that uses Alexa to play music, control smart home devices, provide information, read the news, set alarms, and more. Connects to speakers or headphones through Bluetooth or 3.5 mm stereo cable to play music from Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and TuneIn.
Controls lights, fans, switches, thermostats, garage doors, sprinklers, and more with compatible connected devices from WeMo, Philips Hue, Samsung SmartThings, Nest, ecobee, and others.
Hears you from across the room with 7 far-field microphones for hands-free control, even in noisy environments or while playing music. Includes a built-in speaker so it can work on its own as a smart alarm clock in the bedroom, an assistant in the kitchen, or anywhere you might want a voice-controlled computer.
Always getting smarter and adding new features, plus thousands of skills like Uber, Domino’s, and more. Amazon Echo is not required to use Echo Dot.
Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
Experience a deeper, multi-room clean every day with the Roomba 880 Vacuuming Robot.
Featuring the revolutionary AeroForce Cleaning System, Roomba 880 delivers up to 5x the air power and requires less maintenance. Guided, room to room cleaning allows Roomba to tackle more of your home in one job. Just press clean or schedule Roomba to run up to 7x per week.
Roomba works on all floor types, and at just 3.6 inch tall, is specifically designed to fit under most furniture, beds and kickboards.
The Roomba 880 comes with two Virtual Wall Lighthouse Devices. In Lighthouse mode, the devices keep your Roomba cleaning in one room, then send it off to tackle the next room for guided cleaning in up to 3 rooms. In Virtual Wall mode, keep Roomba in the room you want to clean, and out of the ones you don’t.
Navigates in your unique home, cleaning around clutter and avoiding stairs. Designed to clean under sofas, beds and kickboards.
Robotic Mop
Designed to mop floors quickly and efficiently, the iRobot Braava Floor Mopping Robot systematically covers your entire floor in a single pass.
It uses disposable or microfiber cleaning cloths to pick up dirt, hair and dust from all your hardsurface floors including tile, vinyl, hardwood and laminate. Just attach a cloth, set Braava down, press a button and off it goes, using advanced robotic technology to track where it’s been and where it needs to go.
It’s whisper-quiet too, so you can go about your daily activities without disruption. The included Turbo Charge Cradle is a convenient, one-stop charging and storage space, charging Braava 380t in as fast as two hours.
Braava has two cleaning modes to choose from depending on the job you need done. In sweep mode, Braava dry mops your floors moving in straight lines using dry cleaning cloths. In mop mode, Braava uses a special back-and-forth mopping action and damp cleaning cloths to lift surface dirt and grime off your floors.
Essential Oil Diffuser
Create a romantic ambience, wake yourself up, or relax, it is all up to you! Enjoy your favorite essential oils with the ISELECTOR aromatherapy essential oil diffuser for improved mental and physical health and pleasure.
Releases your favorite fragrance by ionizing essential oil and producing negative ions, lifts your mood, reduces stress with scented fresh air. Turns water and essential oil into micro-particles improving air quality. Helps to alleviate colds/flu congestion and moisturizes dry sinuses. Moisturize dry chapped skin, eyes, and lips naturally.
Keypad Deadbolt
Say goodbye to lost, stolen and just plain forgotten keys.
With an easy-to-install Schlage keypad, coming and going is keyless, effortless – and painless. Plus, our variety of electronic finish and style options pair effortlessly with our most popular trim styles, allowing you to expertly tie together the perfect style inside and out.
Share access more securely — no more hiding spare keys or keeping track of copies. Pre-programmed with 2 access codes for immediate use.
Schlage door hardware offers an easy way to enhance the style of a home, keep it safe, and even make it smarter. Create and delete access codes for trusted friends and family (up to 19). Installs in minutes – no wiring needed. Fit on standard doors.
Automatic Sensor Touchless Trash Can
Don’t just mask smelly garbage odors with fragrances and messy baking soda; eliminate them. The upgraded DZT13 is now equipped with a Carbon Filter Gate (CFG) that uses activated carbon to effectively eliminate and neutralize the toughest odors.
Smelly and oversized garbage doesn’t stand a chance with the upgraded 13 gallon Touchless Trash Can. Its extra wide opening (11.75 diagonal) allows disposal of larger debris and comes equipped with the most advanced infrared sensor technology on the market; opening the lid automatically when you approach within 6 inches, and closing it when you walk away.
Thanks to the automatic lid closing system, the built-in carbon filter can work its magic; eliminating and neutralize nasty odors effectively. The pre-installed Carbon Filter Gate (CFG) has a 3-dimensional surface area, maximizing the deodorizer’s odor-absorption capabilities.
The deodorizer is non-scented and environmental friendly, making it safe for use around children and pets, providing you with a cleaner and fresher home. The deodorizer can fight odors for 3 months before needing replacement.
LED Shower-Head
DreamSpa® All-Chrome Water Temperature Color-Changing LED Shower Head is the World’s Most Advanced LED Shower Head! LED lights are powered by running water, no batteries ever needed. Extra-large 5.25″ Chrome Face with Reflective Perimeter Rim.
5 Settings include Power Rain, Pulsating Massage, Hydro-Mist, Economy Rain & Water-Saving Pause. High-power 3-zone Dial with Rub-clean Jets & Click-action Lever. Designer Beveled Rim Accent.
Color of LED lights changes automatically according to water temperature. 3-color-changing Water Temperature Sensor. Long life LED lights are designed for years of heavy daily use!
LED Toilet Light
One of the most advanced toilet lights on the market, the Lumilux toilet light uses state-of the-art technology to create the perfect way to light up your toilet! Select from 16 colors or create a rainbow in your bathroom using the carousel mode.
The built in infrared motion sensor will detect body heat upon entry and will shut off upon exit. What also makes the Lumilux toilet light so advanced is the light detection sensor that will make sure the toilet light does not come while the bathroom light is on.
Simply bend the arm to secure the toilet light to any size toilet bowl. The unit will store your settings (unless batteries are removed). Push the button to activate the LED light at any time.
Water shade
This project is a gate of water. The project goes by the name of “Water Shade” and keeps a shield of H2O around the fruit it is sworn to protect.
It’s both a dish and a cover, working with water to keep freshness in and everything larger than O2 out!
Designer Yitu Wang doesn’t want to keep you from your delicious apples. This is why in this cool gadget there’s a built in detector that sees your hand in approach, and thus is does desist.
Moisture and freshness are locked in, while dust is locked out. And when you come up and decide you’d love to have a strawberry, as soon as your hand gets near, the streams in that area stop.
At home Clothing Printer by Joshua Harris
This is another one of the cool tech gadgets and I’m sure soon a lot of homes will have it.
Not so long ago, having a photo-copier in your house seemed trivial. Nowadays, one of those is not only affordable, but also small.
The Pattern Door Lock
Has it ever crossed your mind that someone can steal your electronic door passcode?
More often than not, gullible people end up as victims and the wicked score another win.
The Pattern Door Lock is designed in a way that the code combination is not easily visible.
With Braille integrated, the locking system adds a layer of security and functionality to the whole setup.
Bio Tank, Robotic ‘FishWasher’ by Akifusa Nakazawa
The Bio Tank not only does the dishes, but it also makes compost.
The Robotic fish cleans up the dish while turning the food and grime into bio fuel.
It filters to clean the water, meaning no replacing the dirty water either.
The Drum Washing Machine by Andras Suto
This is a communal laundry system that allows people to share the washing facilities.
It features an extractable washing machine drum that doubles up as a laundry basket. With it you can transport laundry between home and the washing area.
The Mystica Desk
The Mystica Desk is a beautiful office workspace that is a must have if you love futuristic technology and furniture.
The table’s ‘L’ design makes it a great table for one person, or a comfortable fit for a team too.
The Smart Touch Refrigerator
The Smart Touch refrigerator may seem like it’s a long shot, but it captures what a smart fridge is required to be like.
The fridge is definitely a class apart with its half-swirl handle.
The handle hosts an inbuilt biometric sensor that knows who’s opening the fridge door.
Food kept inside the fridge is thus tagged to the people who put them there in the first place. Projectors on each food tray project ‘time stamps’ n the food when you open the door.
These stamps show who the food belongs to, and by what time it must be consumed.
The designer HaiMeng Fang wants to drop the possibility of stocking one’s refrigerator, but forgetting about perishable food items kept within the fridge.
The Dividing Printer
While most printers allow you to ‘collate’ prints, there’s always a slight chance that one rogue paper finds itself in the wrong pile.
The Dividing Printer, as its name suggests does something simple yet smart. It mounts the printer on a rail and allows the printer to move left or right while printing documents.
What this does is that it allows the printer to create actual, physical piles of paper that have been segregated from the get go.
The elegance of this solution lies in the fact that it doesn’t change what the printer does. It just adds a small bit of innovation elsewhere to solve the problem.
The Pavati Tap
We never get a chance to see how the hot and cold water blend together within the faucet, before it cascades out like a stream.
The Pavati Tap builds upon this element. The result is a showcase of how the two streams of water can create drama whilst you wash your hands.
A Y-shaped waterfall effect mixes the cold and hot water into a single mutual waterfall.
Transparent TV
The transparent tv designed by Michael Friebe of Loewe AG is a marvelous piece of technology that combines conventional LCD and the latest TOLED display technology.
This allows to create non-transparent / solid moving pictures with rich color reproduction and full contrast range from solid black to pristine white.
Floor Plan Light switch
Have you ever had a problem with forgetting which light switch stands for what light? Taewon Hwang came with the great idea of creating a master light switch with a simple design that shows you what lights you are turning on or off.
The AURA Lamp
Looking almost alien like, the AURA lamp lights up a room with a certain texture and that is because it’s a woven lamp hand made in France.
Dimensional Wall Panels
People aren’t familiar with 3D wall panels. I don’t know why, cause they surely bring a nice feel to a room, with their interesting shapes that create a beautiful arrangement of light and shadows.
They can also be put in shops, restaurants, offices and because of their different that usual look they transmit a nice futuristic look.
The RIMA lamp
The RIMA lamp is one like no other because of its interesting feature that allows you to control the light via four controller rings that you can slide. This beautiful lamp created by Matthias Pinkert has a processor which controls the heat, intensity, angle of the beam and color.
Sony Eclipse
This Sony Eclipse concept created by Hoang M Nguyen and Anh Nguyen is a media player that uses photovoltaic cells situated on its backside to draw in solar power.
With this player you have a slight change of seeing the battery low warning very very rare.
Pouring Light Lamp
A strange but interesting lamp that will surely be sold really fast if it would be put in stores is this one created by Yeongwoo Kim.
The lamp uses LED lights that are situated in the bucket and with the help of phosphorescence in the “water” it lights in a marvelous way. This is one of the cool gadgets that you need to have.
Door Handle With Self-sterilization System
Senzo Nightlight
It’s really annoying during the night when you wake up and not find the light switch. The solution is provided by Soledad Clavell and Marcos Madia who created this wonderful home technology that lights up the room when touching it. If you always wanted a example cool lights for your bedroom, this is it.
Electrolux Fireplace
This fireplace created by Camillo Vanacore for Electrolux is one of the home gadgets presented here that looks almost magical because of its transformation from off to on, from an opaque ceramic column to a transparent one.
Eco Cleaner
Without using regular dish detergents, the Eco Cleaner makes the plates bright and fresh using ultrasonic waves to ionize food particles on the dishes, converting the food into reusable compost for plants.
Less waste and more nutrients for plants are a good idea for the future and a solution for enriching the soil. Of course, we’re talking about the soil for the plants that you keep in your apartment.
Document Extractor – Combi Monitor
Saving space on the desk has always been a problem for some and to solve this issue Byeong Min Choe has come up with a marvelous idea of combining a printer and a monitor.
On Switch
Minimalistic and elegant. That’s how you define this light switch created by Burakov Denis. This is one of the cool things to put in your room to make it better.
Green Smart Glass
The Green Smart Glass has an interesting technology that harnesses the heat energy from the hot beverage and stores it to be used later.
iQ Alarm clock
Instead of the snooze button which you unwillingly press in the morning, this alarm clock has questions that need your lucidity to solve them. This way, you will surely get up fast in the morning.
Change It! Wall
This wall has been passed around on the internet for some time and has become a neat attraction. It’s not LED or anything digital.
It’s actually made of turning triangles with different colors on them, white, black and a rainbow color. It is limited at these three options for now, but I’m sure we’ll see in the future various patterns and images.
Orbital Washing Machine
Washing clothes has never been so easy. With the incorporated basket you can load and unload the clothes in the washing machine as easy as 1, 2, 3.
This isn’t the only innovative feature. The spherical drum is moving on two axes washing your clothes better than the old washing machines that use only one axe.
Bediator
Having a warm bed underneath you is a cool thing, especially if you’re in a place where winters are incredibly cold.
Now I don’t know how much weight this bed radiator-bed supports but if it can take two medium people it is awesome.
LED Ceiling
This is an interesting concept created by Seo Dong-Hun that allows you to create on the ceiling the light shapes you want.
Literally, you can paint the ceiling with light. Imagine the artworks that would result from some people’s imagination.
LULA Lung Lamp
LULA is a product that collects data and indicates the air quality in your room.
If it’s connected to the internet, it can process the data and tell you the health issues that you are facing in that situation and how you can avoid having problems caused by the quality of air.
WAT Lamp
The WAT lamp has the interesting ability to generate light if you fuel it with water.
Yeah, it sounds outrageously futuristic, but the system is actually not that strange. The water combines with a hydroelectric battery to generate an electrochemical reaction that lights it up.
Miranda
This surface tile is not for everyone but it is fun for sure, having the ability to morph the way you want it and create shapes and basic drawings on it. More info can be found on Giles Miller’s site.
WAVE Ultra Sonic Wine Ager And Refrigerator
Ever wanted to age your wine so that it will be of a higher quality? Now you can, it’s not only a movie idea. Designer Mika Yamamoto has created this device that does this incredible thing.
The Wave uses magnetic cooling system that is based on the magnetocaloric effect, which is the ability of some materials to heat up when magnetized and cool when removed from the magnetic field.
It reduces carbon emissions and increases energy efficiency. It can possibly cut energy consumption by 40%. It also reduces the cost of electricity.
The Wave Dish Washer
This dishwasher beautifully designed by Guilherme Parolin makes the action of washing dishes a piece of cake thanks to its user friendly control panel.
Swan Umbrella Dryer
Drying up a wet umbrella has always been a problem. Till Noh Seon Mi designed the Swan Umbrella Dryer, of course.
+- Water Meter
1limit Faucet
Unlike the +- water faucet which only tells you how much you consume and doesn’t technically help you to reduce your costs, the 1litre limited faucet helps you to consume only the water that you need.
iChef+ Oven
From what I’ve seen on the market, the ovens are not user friendly at all, having changed over the years only at an aesthetic level without modifying the process in which you actually cook the meal.
The iChef Oven has an innovative and powerful computer behind it’s technology and I believe it can be considered a milestone in its niche.
The Book Light
This product with integrated LEDs in a plastic body is an interesting product for the people who read a lot and need a discreet light over their pages.
Don’t worry about the light being to powerful, cause you can adjust it as you please.
The Tulip Bath/Shower
In a small bathroom there’s always a problem with space and the Tulip Bath/Shower designed by Piotr Pyrtek provides the solution.
Saving space is not its only feature, having a number of characteristics that qualifies it as a luxury item, like underwater jets or massage programs.
from Web Development & Designing http://www.designyourway.net/blog/inspiration/30-cool-high-tech-gadgets-to-give-your-home-a-futuristic-look/
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Text
Disappearing
A girl stood next to me in the soup aisle. She was a tall blonde who wore a green dress, had an even tan and delicate hands with pink nails. I didn't see her face. She reached out in front of me to grab some Cream of Mushroom. She said, "excuse me" while doing so, and before she touched the can, she vanished. I looked to where she'd previously stood; if she'd had a cart, it was gone. No smell of perfume lingered in the air. There was no ambient warmth from her body. Had I imagined her? Was I dreaming? I must have been. I shrugged it off and kept looking for my soup, pouches of dry onion soup, three for $1.79. I'd throw them into my slow-cooker and make a roast to hold me over for a few days. My slow-cooker was budget magic. It helped me save money, climb out of the debt that I'd become buried in.
My sister was a vegetarian, so the roast was only for me. She'd have to survive on the veggie chili I'd made the night before. She was a good kid, she lived with me. I'd kinda raised her, and a lot of my money troubles stemmed from supporting her financially in the years after our parents passed away. Stuff like slow-cookers and onion soup enabled me to carve out a moderately healthy lifestyle and still manage my bills. I pushed the girl from the soup aisle out of my mind and went to the drinks, grabbed some water, and headed toward the checkout. Images danced in my periphery. I thought they might be more people, but when I'd turn to face them, there was nothing there. The girl at checkout was the same one as usual, though still kind of new. I realized that I couldn't remember the girl who stood there before. It'd only been a few months. I used to talk to her daily, since I only lived a few blocks away from the store, and then one day I never saw her again; she was replaced by this other girl, who was tall and black with light skin, skinny, who seldom seemed to want to talk to me. I wonder what the other girl looked like.
The drive home was uneventful. I saw a guy I'd known since kindergarten, he was walking home from the store. I didn't stop to pick him up because I didn't really want to, didn't know if he'd be clingy. That group tended to be, as were most people, I'd come to find. You had to be selective about who you made yourself available to. Too many relations ate up your life. I don't know how extroverts managed to be productive. Maybe they produced things socially? I don't know how that would work, but I suspect that behind it, there was always a loner at a computer designing the plans for social people to implement. Maybe. I don't know. Maybe social people were loners too, in their own right. When they needed to be, I guess --and they made their own plans. The guy walked past me at a light and I drove past him when it turned green. I smiled because it was good to see him looking okay. He seemed absorbed in something, was staring straight ahead, expressionless. I got home and made my roast. I exercised and I read and I watched some cartoons. My sister got home late from school and work, so I only spent a minute with her before bed.
Things were strange at work. I texted my aunt in the morning, one of the few people I was close with, and she never responded. Also, a restroom I was sharing with a few unseen people, we were all in stalls, went empty. There were feet in the stalls next to mine, then they disappeared. The others, whose feet I couldn't see, just stopped making noise, then I was alone. The lights went out and wouldn't come back on, though I waved kind-of-desperately at the motion sensor in the ceiling. It was difficult to tell if I'd wiped enough in the dark. The building, which is an office space for 4,000 people, was largely empty, despite it being a weekday. My team all worked from home that day, so I talked to one of my neighbors in another department. She was in her 30s, a pretty lady with a cheery disposition who used foul language on occasion. I liked her. She told me about her kids and her husband, back-to-school stuff. We'd talk for a few minutes, then signify the end of the conversation by turning back to our computers to work. A while later, she'd laugh or I'd laugh and we'd talk again, tell each other what was funny, then spin around again. My job was the kind of role that's essential in a call center setting, though practically indescribable in the real world. I had very little face-to-face time with anyone, ever. I liked it. I wore headphones all day and listened to music while the office buzzed around me. Desks away, a group stood for a daily huddle to calibrate their criteria for quality analyses. I noticed a few of their regulars were missing, one girl I considered my friend, and the group's desks were bare. One of my own decorations was missing from my desk.
I shuffled icons across computer screens for a few hours, then my day ended. I picked up my lunch bag and turned to my neighbor to say bye. She was gone; I hadn't noticed her leave. I walked to the security gates at the building's entrance, they were automatic sliding glass monstrosities that I always thought could seriously injure a person, and, to my horror, discovered that they weren't detecting me. I approached nearer to the glass than I ever had before. Normally, they'd have gone off pretty quickly, either by opening or sounding an alarm. They operated like lateral guillotines, the glass drawing back into steel columns before sliding behind the person crossing through. The glass didn't move. I waited for someone to make an exit so I could follow. It took ten minutes, finally someone showed up. She didn't look at me. I'd seen her around before, but we'd never spoken. I wasn't sure we'd ever smiled at each other. She approached, the gates opened and I slipped behind her as discretely as possible. I don't think she noticed me, but the gates struck a jar I'd used for oatmeal in the morning. It was in my lunch bag. The impact made a resounding crack, heavy glass on glass, but the girl didn't turn and nobody else was around. The building was empty, clear across the first floor to the other doors, a few thousand feet away. The Starbucks in the middle of the building was deserted. I began to feel uncomfortable; it was always mobbed. I crossed the parking lot and went to my car, which seemed normal, but I drove home on streets and freeways that were largely empty despite it being three in the afternoon.
I got home and texted my aunt again. I apologized for having vanished for a while, told her that I'd been going through a lot, went through a breakup, had to buy a new car, and my sister had discovered bedbugs in the apartment, that I missed her and I hoped she and her family were doing okay. Again, she didn't respond. I hadn't spoken with the rest of the family in months. I missed them, but I didn't really know how to maintain relationships outside of the one I had with my sister. I always spent too much money or made conflicting plans, stopped seeing friends to spend time with family or stopped seeing family to spend time with friends, couldn't really manage that on top of work and my own interests and cooking and cleaning the apartment. I didn't know how to be an adult, or maybe I did. I don't know. I ate my leftover roast with a small portion of veggie chili, which my sister hadn't touched the night before. I wondered if she'd eaten, texted her to say I hope she was doing okay, that there was still chili and she could help herself. She texted back, easing my tension a little bit, said she would have some chili, that she loved me and that she was okay. I jumped onto the internet and messaged a few friends to see how they were doing. One responded fairly quickly, said he was busy when I asked if we could hang out sometime, the rest didn't see my messages. I loaded the dishwasher and ran it, then went to my room and exercised. I ate a can of tuna with a glass of milk and showered. When I got out, the washer was done. I opened it and it was empty and dry inside, as though it hadn't been run. I opened my cabinets and they seemed sparse, though I couldn't place which dishes were missing. I opened my fridge to grab some cottage cheese, maybe eat it with a salad, but I didn't have either. I was relieved to have an excuse to leave the house.
The grocery store was barren. Lights were out in a few sections, none of which I normally used. I grabbed a bag of kale and some cottage cheese and a gallon of water. I went to check out and noticed that the New regular register girl wasn't there anymore. I used the automated checkout, as opposed to waiting in another line, where the register was being operated by an old lady who seemed friendly enough, but was looked perpetually perplexed and took ages to ring things up. The computer at the self-checkout beeped three times and I paid with my card. I walked to the exit and the door didn't detect me. I stood up tall, waved in front of it, walked back and forth and nothing worked, so I pulled it open and walked out. The parking lot was empty besides my car. I could have sworn there were cars prior to my bit of shopping.
Back home, I made my salad and texted my friends again, to no avail. I was beginning to get pretty lonely, so I messaged a few exes, girls I hadn't spoken to in months, if not years. I made a habit of detaching from old relationships. I felt they interfered with new ones, like dating a new girl might be made awkward if I were rekindling things with someone I dated previously. So I tended to let them go unless I was feeling isolated. No response from them, but that was to be expected. Maybe they'd respond later and we'd talk about their new boyfriends. Maybe we'd make plans and never follow through. Maybe we'd follow through and hang out, I'd get bored and leave. I don't remember ever being dumped, but I had a few that came close --on and off things where we'd reconcile in the span of a day or two and continue the relationship for another month or so before breaking up for good. I wanted to watch a movie, but all my favorite streaming sites weren't turning up on Google, so I grabbed a book off my shelf and sat in my recliner. The blanket I normally used was gone. So were some of my couch cushions. The pattern on my recliner was gone. It used to have tiny black and brown spots, little tufts of brown sticking out of a black canvas kind of material. Now it was just solid brown. The book was good. It was a story about an orphan crossing the Mexican/American border. The writing suited my mood, the story was pretty dark in a minimalist kind of way. I stayed up reading, checking my phone to see if anyone had responded. No one did.
I once read a book where the author suggested that sentience comes from mutations in looping brain signals, tiny little deviations change the way we operate from the point they begin happening. The mutant loops would supposedly go on to form whole new loops themselves. After I read that, I started seeing cycles in everything from my interactions to the way ideas took shape in my head, to the way civilization was developing, and I watched cycles break and things mutate, over and over. I read that book years ago, but it stayed with me, that cycles in our behavior might reshape reality over time as they develop and change or decay. I still think about that.
My sister never came home.
I texted her the following morning, having fallen asleep in the recliner. She never responded. I panicked at first, when I got up and saw her door open, as though she wouldn't have woken me up by walking past me in the livingroom, and then I walked back to the kitchen and thought that I might be better off if she stayed gone. Immediately, I felt ashamed. It wasn't the first time I'd thought that. It resurfaced in times of stress, by virtue, I think, of devoting so much of my life to her. This kid, who was my anchor to the world and my reason for being, the filter through which I learned the things people needed to feel nurtured and happy, I blamed for so many of my problems. I texted my aunt. She never responded. I texted our cousin. She never responded. I resolved to calm down and wait a while. My solid brown recliner looked inviting. I texted my boss and told him that I wouldn't be going to work. He said okay and that he hoped everything was okay. Every time I heard my apartment gate open, I'd walk to the window in my kitchen and peer outside. I never saw a car. The roads were grey slabs free of any defining granularity. The world outside looked flat, devoid of detail. The fence lining my parking lot was a solid dark brown wall that'd once been greying, oxidized cedar. The parking lot empty. I'd stare out and go sit back down. With each trip, my apartment emptied a little further. First went our pictures, family stuff that I'd grown up with. Then houseplants given to me by exes, which I hadn't had the heart to throw away. Then my rug, a brown and yellow thing which had once depicted vines and leaves, which had recently been reduced to concentric brown and yellow rings. My coffee table vanished, then my bookshelf, one I'd built with my dad's help. The light began to fade away, incrementally dimming to black. I stopped checking outside after things went dark; there wasn't any sound anymore, anyway. By that point, all my furniture was gone. So were the bedrooms. I just had my livingroom. I tried to check my phone, but it wouldn't turn on. I sat and waited, and the room darkened every time I blinked. My window went away. My kitchen went away. It all went away, and I began telling this story. I don't know how many times I've repeated it, but, deep down, I'm hoping this can change.
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