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I waited for something to happen. My knees bent and my eyes gazed across the dunes waiting to run. But beyond the sound of the swaying bell and the water trickling out to sea, everything was still.
“You know what’s happening?” I called out to Alessia, still monitoring the tops of the dunes.
Alessia paused, then huffed. “No. I see nothing.” I heard her take a few steps through the sand towards me. “That bell does nothing.”
I walked towards the guard, shouting so I’d be heard over the metal clanging next to his ear. “What’s happening? What’s the bell for?”
“All visitors must report to the council headquarters. You can find the council headquarters on the western side of the island.”
I let out a hot breath of anger and turned away. “We can sit here all day listening to the ringing or go somewhere else.”
Alessia cocked her head. “Maybe we should go find this council office. He seems keen on us going there.”
I rolled my eyes and began trudging back up the dune away from the small river and the alluring artefact behind us. I leaned my head down, concentrating on each step, watching my feet sink into the soft sand on every step, grains tumbling down the slope in my wake. Half-way through the grind, I glanced forward to see a man silhouetted in the bright light of the sun.
I squinted until I could make out the details. His face was lined with thick wrinkles, and he had a mop of loose grey curls that fell to the base of his neck. A loose beige shirt with sleeves too long for his arms hung loosely across his thin frame.
Stretching out a hand, I tapped Alessia on the shoulder. She stopped and looked up. “Can we help you?”
“You will need to wait till two representatives are present,” the man replied in a firm but croaky voice.
“Two representatives?” I looked between the man and the guard at the bottom of the dune. “It looks like we have that.” I pointed between them.
“You will need to wait till two representatives are present.”
My eyes sealed shut with frustration. “Is that all you’ve got to say?”
He was silent for a second. Then, “You will need to wait till two representatives are present.”
“No. Sorry.” I leaned over and placed a hand on Alessia’s arm pulling her forward. “Done with this.” I turned slightly away from the man, cutting a path past him to the left.
He responded, pacing along the top of the dune to intercept us. He held out his arms so that the sleeves of his baggy shirt draped like a cloak “You will need to wait till two representatives are present.”
I tensed my cheeks, ensuring they only opened so far as to not scream. “If it’s fine with you, we’re going to find someone who can actually speak.” I tried to walk around him, but he sidestepped to cut me off.
“You will need to wait till two representatives are present.” He glanced over our shoulders and nodded.
Turning, I could see a woman on the other side of the dune. She was younger, with short, clipped strawberry-blonde hair.
“Is she another representative? Can we talk now?”
“You will need to wait till two representatives are present.”
I raised my arms in protest. “There’s three of you now,” I shouted.
The man turned to his left and called out as loudly as his elderly lungs could. “Yamil, hurry up if you can. They’re getting restless.”
My eyes bulged. “So you can talk.”
“You will need to wait till two representatives are present.”
My arms tensed and my hands wrung with anger as the man stood his ground in front of us.
“Just wait,” Alessia sighed, her shoulders slumped. “See what happens.”
We watched the woman descend the dunes, cross the stream, and then slowly climb the other side towards us. It was a long, awkward wait, watching her trudge through soft sands, the three of us standing in silence.
Finally, she got close enough for the man to exhale and his body relax. “Thank you for waiting. We need both members present to hold a conversation.”
“Why-“ I cut myself off. “Wait. There’s a body. A body down there. In the sand-“
“We know,” said the man in a calm but resigned tone.
“Who is it?” Alessia asked..
“The former guard,” the woman, Yamil, said as she arrived. “Few months ago a man arrived on the island and shot him. He wanted to get to the ship.”
I raised my eyebrows and looked to Alessia. “Sannaz?”
She nodded, turning to face the ship and the current guard, now returned to their relaxed position. “He’s been dead for months? Why didn’t you move him?”
“We couldn’t agree on what to do with him,” the man nodded calmly.
“Bury them? Cremate them?” I blinked rapidly. “Something?”
“The Council considered all those options.” The man gave the same accompanying nod. “But we couldn’t come to an agreement.”
“The Council?”
“There are ten villages on the island,” Yamil said, folding her arms. “Each one sends one person to the council.”
“And the council couldn’t decide on what to do with a dead body? So you just…” I looked back down at the patch of sand - too far away to make out the hand in any detail, but I was certain I could see the point where the bone poked through the surface. “…left him?”
“We took a vote.” The man turned to Yamil, checking for her confirmation. “Eight for burial, one for cremation, one for placing them in plain sight as a warning. That right?”
“Yes, Fidel.” Yamil replied.
My eyes narrowed, the brows meeting at the bridge of my nose. “Why didn’t you go with the vote?”
“We didn’t agree.” Fidel responded with equal confusion.
Yamil stepped in. “If we don’t all agree, then we don’t go ahead. Everyone has to agree.” Her face flinched slightly as she spoke.
“It’s the only way to stop the majority taking advantage of everyone. If we all have to agree then one-half can’t take advantage of the other half.” Fidel puffed his chest, recalling an old mantra.
I could feel a familiar heat in my veins, and I tried to temper it as I spoke. “You get together. You discuss something. And if any one of you disagrees, you do nothing.”
“Correct.” The nod seemed more enthusiastic.
“And you couldn’t tell us that till now because…?”
Yamil responded in a dour monotone. “Regular citizens aren’t allowed to speak to people from outside the island. They could do things or say things that would be only in their own interests.”
“What’s good for one person - what might even be good for the majority - can still harm some,” Fidel preached. “We must protect those who otherwise would have no voice. Here, everyone has a voice. Everyone is protected.”
I thought of the bones poking through the sand, but I said nothing.
Alessia let out a quiet, almost inaudible grumble. “So how come you can speak to us? Where’s the rest of the council?”
“We understand that at some point someone has to speak to outsiders,” Fidel said gruffly. “As long as two council members were present to witness, we could provide outsiders with information.”
I pushed the oddities from my mind, trying to refocus. “Does that mean you can give us access to the ship?”
Yamil shook her head. “That would require a council vote.”
“And agreement from all ten of them?” Alessia added.
Yamil nodded.
Alessia sucked air between her teeth. “We’re trying to track down the man who killed that guard. Your guard. Your own citizen. We’ll take nothing, cause no damage. We’re just trying to stop-”
“You’ll need council approval,” Fidel interrupted.
“How do we get that?”
Yamil looked to Fidel and wrinkled her nose. “I’ll get word out to the eastern side if you send people to the north. Get them together tomorrow night?”
Fidel bowed his head. “Agreed.”
“Tomorrow?” The words left my mouth tasting of relief.
“Around sunset.” Yamil smiled. “Put your case to the council. If all ten approve, then you can go ahead.”
“And if one says no?” Alessia asked, pulling back one side of her mouth.
Yamil let out a small chuckle. “Then bad luck.”
——————————————————————————
We returned to the boat and waited. We watched as the sun pushed across the sky, fell, and rose again. All the while, in the distance, that vessel loomed over us, calling me like a beacon.
Some connection to Sannaz was right there. Though, I also knew that something else pulled me towards that boat. The connection to the old world.
I spent the day staring at the ancient boat the way a child might study a present, trying to figure out its contents and its purpose from the outside, knowing I would always have to wait till it was unwrapped.
As evening came we trekked across the island to our appointment. The headquarters looked like a large barn: two storeys tall, and no longer than the length of Alessia’s boat. There were no signs outside, no lavish windows, no murals. Just two large wooden doors the same colour as the walls.
The inside was the same four wooden walls surrounding a stone floor. Looking up, I could see the evening sky through thin cracks in the woods. Near the far end, a couple of planks had half-rotted away, their ends broken off. Thin strands of wood dangled above the floor revealing a perfect window to the arriving starscape. Below the spot, there was a darkened patch of the stone where a decade of rain water had left a permanent stain.
“Welcome,” said Fidel, noticing us enter. “Please, have a seat.” He pointed to a patch of dusty stone floor to his left.
The rest of the council sat in a circle. There were no seats. Some sat on the floor, one or two had brought cushions with them, another sat on an upturned log.
As we joined, Fidel began the meeting. “All ten council members are here. Yotese Over Haven was founded on the principle that all islanders from all ten villages are equal in power. No one should be compelled to go along with anything they do not approve of. We move as one or not at all.” He lowered his head and looked around the circle. “As per the guidelines we’ll open the floor for discussion topics before we move to dignitary business. Are there any proposals?”
One woman raised her hand slowly. “I’d like to propose sending a group to look into trading with Eglowe Needles. They may be in need of timber and we have plenty.”
“You do,” I heard Yamil mutter under her breath. The room ignored her.
“Very well,” Fidel replied. “Those in favor of debating this topic raise your hand.” Seven hands went up. Three stayed down.
“No consensus,” Fidel announced. “Next.”
Yamil raised an arm like a bolt. “I’d like to rediscuss repairs to the southern village.”
A few of the circle sighed. One man groaned.
“Those in favor of debating this topic raise your hand.”
Eight went up.
“No consensus.”
Yamil’s hand immediately raised again. “In that case I’d like to rediscuss the replacement of livestock in the Southern village.” The words were fast, repeated to instinct.
“Again?” one man moaned.
Yamil’s eyes bulged in his direction, reaching out to attack. “Yes. And I’ll keep proposing it until we discuss it.”
Fidel held up a palm to try and calm the mood. “Those in favor of debating this topic raise your hand.”
Eight hands raised. Yamil stared at the detractors, her head shaking from side to side, biting her lip.
“No consensus. Any other proposals?”
The room went quiet, stewing in the uneasy and dusty air.
Fidel seemed to count in his head until enough time had passed. “Very well. As was agreed by this council thirty-three years ago, dignitaries of foreign nations do not need to propose a topic and can present to the council. Therefore, I would like to ask our guests to speak.”
I stood up, unsure of the correct protocol, and nodded to the council members. Then, piece by piece, I laid out our story. We believed the ship would help us find a dangerous man, a man who had already attacked three islands and could hurt many more, a man who had already murdered one of their own. I tried to keep my voice passive, keep my own losses - Lachlann, Thomas - out of the story. Keep to what was pertinent to the room, not to me.
Fidel nodded and took a deep breath. “Those who wish to open the floor to questions, raise your hands.”
A smattering of hands raised. Maybe half. Too few.
“No consensus. Then we move to the vote. Those in favor of granting access to the ship raise your hand.”
I watched as hands raised. Yamil gave a limp raise of her arm quickly. Fidel followed slowly, but with a straight elbow. One by one I could see the machinations of those on the fence eventually lift their hand to the sky. Then I looked to the woman to my left. Her head was lowered, her hands in her lap. She didn’t move.
Then across the circle I saw Yamil lower her hand. “I withdraw my vote,” she said.
“What?” I called out. “You invited us here.”
“I’m going to ask you to remain silent during voting.” Fidel spoke calmly, looking round the circle. “Eight for. Two against. No consensus.”
“We need to get in there,” I interrupted. “People’s lives could be in danger.”
“The matter has been discussed,” Fidel waved his arm dismissively. He returned to a more formal voice. “The meeting is adjourned. Thank you for coming everyone.”
“No. Please. Vote again.”
“We voted. There was no consensus.”
“Eight of you said we could go. Yamil was fine too to start with, that’s nine.”
“There was no consensus.” Fidel repeated slowly, as though I had merely not understood.
“Can’t you use some common sense? At least give us an explanation.” I could feel Aslessia place a hand on my arm, pulling me away. I shirked it off.
“There was no consensus.”
I walked towards Fidel, getting in his eyeline. “What now then? What are we supposed to do?”
“Now?” He lifted an eyebrow. “You leave.”
The Archipelago is posted every Wednesday
previous chapter / contents / patreon

I waited for something to happen. My knees bent and my eyes gazed across the dunes waiting to run. But beyond the sound of the swaying bell and the water trickling out to sea, everything was still.
“You know what’s happening?” I called out to Alessia, still monitoring the tops of the dunes.
Alessia paused, then huffed. “No. I see nothing.” I heard her take a few steps through the sand towards me. “That bell does nothing.”
I walked towards the guard, shouting so I’d be heard over the metal clanging next to his ear. “What’s happening? What’s the bell for?”
“All visitors must report to the council headquarters. You can find the council headquarters on the western side of the island.”
I let out a hot breath of anger and turned away. “We can sit here all day listening to the ringing or go somewhere else.”
Alessia cocked her head. “Maybe we should go find this council office. He seems keen on us going there.”
I rolled my eyes and began trudging back up the dune away from the small river and the alluring artefact behind us. I leaned my head down, concentrating on each step, watching my feet sink into the soft sand on every step, grains tumbling down the slope in my wake. Half-way through the grind, I glanced forward to see a man silhouetted in the bright light of the sun.
I squinted until I could make out the details. His face was lined with thick wrinkles, and he had a mop of loose grey curls that fell to the base of his neck. A loose beige shirt with sleeves too long for his arms hung loosely across his thin frame.
Stretching out a hand, I tapped Alessia on the shoulder. She stopped and looked up. “Can we help you?”
“You will need to wait till two representatives are present,” the man replied in a firm but croaky voice.
“Two representatives?” I looked between the man and the guard at the bottom of the dune. “It looks like we have that.” I pointed between them.
“You will need to wait till two representatives are present.”
My eyes sealed shut with frustration. “Is that all you’ve got to say?”
He was silent for a second. Then, “You will need to wait till two representatives are present.”
“No. Sorry.” I leaned over and placed a hand on Alessia’s arm pulling her forward. “Done with this.” I turned slightly away from the man, cutting a path past him to the left.
He responded, pacing along the top of the dune to intercept us. He held out his arms so that the sleeves of his baggy shirt draped like a cloak “You will need to wait till two representatives are present.”
I tensed my cheeks, ensuring they only opened so far as to not scream. “If it’s fine with you, we’re going to find someone who can actually speak.” I tried to walk around him, but he sidestepped to cut me off.
“You will need to wait till two representatives are present.” He glanced over our shoulders and nodded.
Turning, I could see a woman on the other side of the dune. She was younger, with short, clipped strawberry-blonde hair.
“Is she another representative? Can we talk now?”
“You will need to wait till two representatives are present.”
I raised my arms in protest. “There’s three of you now,” I shouted.
The man turned to his left and called out as loudly as his elderly lungs could. “Yamil, hurry up if you can. They’re getting restless.”
My eyes bulged. “So you can talk.”
“You will need to wait till two representatives are present.”
My arms tensed and my hands wrung with anger as the man stood his ground in front of us.
“Just wait,” Alessia sighed, her shoulders slumped. “See what happens.”
We watched the woman descend the dunes, cross the stream, and then slowly climb the other side towards us. It was a long, awkward wait, watching her trudge through soft sands, the three of us standing in silence.
Finally, she got close enough for the man to exhale and his body relax. “Thank you for waiting. We need both members present to hold a conversation.”
“Why-“ I cut myself off. “Wait. There’s a body. A body down there. In the sand-“
“We know,” said the man in a calm but resigned tone.
“Who is it?” Alessia asked..
“The former guard,” the woman, Yamil, said as she arrived. “Few months ago a man arrived on the island and shot him. He wanted to get to the ship.”
I raised my eyebrows and looked to Alessia. “Sannaz?”
She nodded, turning to face the ship and the current guard, now returned to their relaxed position. “He’s been dead for months? Why didn’t you move him?”
“We couldn’t agree on what to do with him,” the man nodded calmly.
“Bury them? Cremate them?” I blinked rapidly. “Something?”
“The Council considered all those options.” The man gave the same accompanying nod. “But we couldn’t come to an agreement.”
“The Council?”
“There are ten villages on the island,” Yamil said, folding her arms. “Each one sends one person to the council.”
“And the council couldn’t decide on what to do with a dead body? So you just…” I looked back down at the patch of sand - too far away to make out the hand in any detail, but I was certain I could see the point where the bone poked through the surface. “…left him?”
“We took a vote.” The man turned to Yamil, checking for her confirmation. “Eight for burial, one for cremation, one for placing them in plain sight as a warning. That right?”
“Yes, Fidel,” Yamil replied.
My eyes narrowed, the brows meeting at the bridge of my nose. “Why didn’t you go with the vote?”
“We didn’t agree,” Fidel responded with equal confusion.
Yamil stepped in. “If we don’t all agree, then we don’t go ahead. Everyone has to agree.” Her face flinched slightly as she spoke.
“It’s the only way to stop the majority taking advantage of everyone. If we all have to agree then one-half can’t take advantage of the other half.” Fidel puffed his chest, recalling an old mantra.
I could feel a familiar heat in my veins, and I tried to temper it as I spoke. “You get together. You discuss something. And if any one of you disagrees, you do nothing.”
“Correct.” The nod seemed more enthusiastic.
“And you couldn’t tell us that till now because…?”
Yamil responded in a dour monotone. “Regular citizens aren’t allowed to speak to people from outside the island. They could do things or say things that would be only in their own interests.”
“What’s good for one person - what might even be good for the majority - can still harm some,” Fidel preached. “We must protect those who otherwise would have no voice. Here, everyone has a voice. Everyone is protected.”
I thought of the bones poking through the sand, but I said nothing.
Alessia let out a quiet, almost inaudible grumble. “So how come you can speak to us? Where’s the rest of the council?”
“We understand that at some point someone has to speak to outsiders,” Fidel said gruffly. “As long as two council members were present to witness, we could provide outsiders with information.”
I pushed the oddities from my mind, trying to refocus. “Does that mean you can give us access to the ship?”
Yamil shook her head. “That would require a council vote.”
“And agreement from all ten of them?” Alessia added.
Yamil nodded.
Alessia sucked air between her teeth. “We’re trying to track down the man who killed that guard. Your guard. Your own citizen. We’ll take nothing, cause no damage. We’re just trying to stop-”
“You’ll need council approval,” Fidel interrupted.
“How do we get that?”
Yamil looked to Fidel and wrinkled her nose. “I’ll get word out to the eastern side if you send people to the north. Get them together tomorrow night?”
Fidel bowed his head. “Agreed.”
“Tomorrow?” The words left my mouth tasting of relief.
“Around sunset.” Yamil smiled. “Put your case to the council. If all ten approve, then you can go ahead.”
“And if one says no?” Alessia asked, pulling back one side of her mouth.
Yamil let out a small chuckle. “Then bad luck.”
——————————————————————————
We returned to the boat and waited. We watched as the sun pushed across the sky, fell, and rose again. All the while, in the distance, that vessel loomed over us, calling me like a beacon.
Some connection to Sannaz was right there. Though, I also knew that something else pulled me towards that boat. The connection to the old world.
I spent the day staring at the ancient boat the way a child might study a present, trying to figure out its contents and its purpose from the outside, knowing I would always have to wait till it was unwrapped.
As evening came we trekked across the island to our appointment. The headquarters looked like a large barn: two storeys tall, and no longer than the length of Alessia’s boat. There were no signs outside, no lavish windows, no murals. Just two large wooden doors the same colour as the walls.
The inside was the same four wooden walls surrounding a stone floor. Looking up, I could see the evening sky through thin cracks in the woods. Near the far end, a couple of planks had half-rotted away, their ends broken off. Thin strands of wood dangled above the floor revealing a perfect window to the arriving starscape. Below the spot, there was a darkened patch of the stone where a decade of rainwater had left a permanent stain.
“Welcome,” said Fidel, noticing us enter. “Please, have a seat.” He pointed to a patch of dusty stone floor to his left.
The rest of the council sat in a circle. There were no seats. Some sat on the floor, one or two had brought cushions with them, another sat on an upturned log.
As we joined, Fidel began the meeting. “All ten council members are here. Yotese Over Haven was founded on the principle that all islanders from all ten villages are equal in power. No one should be compelled to go along with anything they do not approve of. We move as one or not at all.” He lowered his head and looked around the circle. “As per the guidelines we’ll open the floor for discussion topics before we move to dignitary business. Are there any proposals?”
One woman raised her hand slowly. “I’d like to propose sending a group to look into trading with Eglowe Needles. They may be in need of timber and we have plenty.”
“You do,” I heard Yamil mutter under her breath. The room ignored her.
“Very well,” Fidel replied. “Those in favor of debating this topic raise your hand.” Seven hands went up. Three stayed down.
“No consensus,” Fidel announced. “Next.”
Yamil raised an arm like a bolt. “I’d like to rediscuss repairs to the southern village.”
A few of the circle sighed. One man groaned.
“Those in favor of debating this topic raise your hand.”
Eight went up.
“No consensus.”
Yamil’s hand immediately raised again. “In that case I’d like to rediscuss the replacement of livestock in the Southern village.” The words were fast, repeated to instinct.
“Again?” one man moaned.
Yamil’s eyes bulged in his direction, reaching out to attack. “Yes. And I’ll keep proposing it until we discuss it.”
Fidel held up a palm to try and calm the mood. “Those in favor of debating this topic raise your hand.”
Eight hands raised. Yamil stared at the detractors, her head shaking from side to side, biting her lip.
“No consensus. Any other proposals?”
The room went quiet, stewing in the uneasy and dusty air.
Fidel seemed to count in his head until enough time had passed. “Very well. As was agreed by this council thirty-three years ago, dignitaries of foreign nations do not need to propose a topic and can present to the council. Therefore, I would like to ask our guests to speak.”
I stood up, unsure of the correct protocol, and nodded to the council members. Then, piece by piece, I laid out our story. We believed the ship would help us find a dangerous man, a man who had already attacked three islands and could hurt many more, a man who had already murdered one of their own. I tried to keep my voice passive, keep my own losses - Lachlann, Thomas - out of the story. Keep to what was pertinent to the room, not to me.
Fidel nodded and took a deep breath. “Those who wish to open the floor to questions, raise your hands.”
A smattering of hands raised. Maybe half. Too few.
“No consensus. Then we move to the vote. Those in favor of granting access to the ship raise your hand.”
I watched as hands raised. Yamil gave a limp raise of her arm quickly. Fidel followed slowly, but with a straight elbow. One by one I could see the machinations of those on the fence eventually lift their hand to the sky. Then I looked to the woman to my left. Her head was lowered, her hands in her lap. She didn’t move.
Then across the circle I saw Yamil lower her hand. “I withdraw my vote,” she said.
“What?” I called out. “You invited us here.”
“I’m going to ask you to remain silent during voting.” Fidel spoke calmly, looking round the circle. “Eight for. Two against. No consensus.”
“We need to get in there,” I interrupted. “People’s lives could be in danger.”
“The matter has been discussed,” Fidel waved his arm dismissively. He returned to a more formal voice. “The meeting is adjourned. Thank you for coming everyone.”
“No. Please. Vote again.”
“We voted. There was no consensus.”
“Eight of you said we could go. Yamil was fine too to start with, that’s nine.”
“There was no consensus.” Fidel repeated slowly, as though I had merely not understood.
“Can’t you use some common sense? At least give us an explanation.” I could feel Aslessia place a hand on my arm, pulling me away. I shirked it off.
“There was no consensus.”
I walked towards Fidel, getting in his eyeline. “What now then? What are we supposed to do?”
“Now?” He lifted an eyebrow. “You leave.”
The Archipelago is posted every Wednesday

Read chapter 15 here: https://www.reddit.com/saw/comments/11rvp3u/legacy_from_the_book_of_saw_chapter_15_dr_steward/
___________________________________________________
*** CHAPTER 16 **\*
William Schenk enters a shabby apartment complex carrying a red, portable cooler. He passes the commonly empty front desk and proceeds upstairs. When he reaches his floor, he sees a call girl exiting his neighbor's apartment. He flashes a charming smile and keeps moving. His neighbor, ashamed, says, "Hey Bill…," But Bill doesn't stop. He offers a wave and continues down the hall.
Aside from a small TV and newspaper articles, his flat is almost barren. He places the cooler on the kitchen counter and heads into his bedroom. Opening the closet door, he procures a small, aqua green, square-shaped box and a thin strand of rope, approximately four feet in length.
He sets the box on the living room table, then grabs the portable cooler. On the table in front of him, he switches on an old radio, quickly tuning the device to a new station.
The reporter begins to speak about the mass grave that's been discovered, while Bill stuffs the box full of newspaper. He then opens the cooler and places the contents into box. The final step is to wrap the box with the rope, making the perfect knot and bow.
In the kitchen, he takes a black marker from a ceramic cup and writes a note on a small white tag. He slips the rope through a pre-punctured hole on the label and ties it off. Satisfied, The Organ Donor admires his work, then places the gift inside the freezer.
*** CHAPTER 17 **\*
Paint dripped on the precinct floor as Lincoln made his way to the restroom. He locked the door, unbuttoned his shirt, set it on the counter, and unhooked the latch on his brace. The Detective slowly removed the homemade cilice, exposing a throng of metal spikes that had left dozens of painful indentations in his skin. Lincoln stared at his scarred torso, stoic to the pain he had caused himself as repentance. As he watched the blood spill from several small wounds, he remembered cradling Roy's head, and in his mind, Lincoln felt he deserved this.
He allowed his sores a moment to breathe while he struggled to remove the paint from his shirt and jacket. Five minutes passed, and he was granted only a moderate improvement. He reapplied the painful undergarment, breathed sharply, and buttoned his shirt.
On the way to his office, he is approached by an officer, "Detective Riley," she says, "Renee Walsh would like to speak with you."
"Where is she?"
"Agent Webb is interviewing her now. Right, this way."
Following his colleague to the Booking Room, Lincoln feels the cilice pressing against his skin. He reaches into his shirt, pulls the strap to tighten the brace, and readjusts his clothes.
Agent Webb has concluded her interview, and she passes him in the hallway, "She's all yours."
Entering the room, Lincoln puts on a neutral face, "I'm sorry for the delay. Are you alright?"
Renee stands up from her chair and approaches the Detective, "Lincoln, It's been a long time."
"Look, this is just a precaution. You'll be safe here."
"That woman…" she says, referring to Agent Webb, "She's treating me like I'm a part of this."
Lincoln looks over his shoulder, then back to Renee, "I can't reveal much, but there is a connection between the murders and Jigsaw's accomplices."
Renee moves to the table and sits down, "I thought this was over. It's been over two years…."
"Have you been in contact with any of the other survivors?"
She sighs, "Not really, just Jeff…."
"You were close?"
Renee thinks about her response before answering, "He didn't do those things he was accused of… I-I trust him."
"What about the rest of the group?"
"The others? They never really liked me, and you don't often find someone who appreciates what John did."
Lincoln glances at her eye patch, "Why do you?"
She stares at her shoes and explains, "I always felt invisible, but he noticed me. I know it's stupid, but I needed this."
Her words resonated with Lincoln. He slid his hands against his chest and down to his hips. He could feel the Nitrous canister inside his pocket, left over from his session with Dr. Steward. A sudden craving was triggered, "We're going to keep you here as long as we have to."
Renee's face was tinged with sadness, "Lincoln, I can't." She says, distressed.
"What's wrong?"
She bits her lip, "It's not me I'm worried about… It's my Dad and Brother."
"There's no indication that they're in any danger."
"It's not that," She says, "My dad is sick. He needs me."
Lincoln's eyes wander, contemplative, "I'll tell you what, I'll send someone over there to make sure everything is alright, okay?"
"Thank you, Lincoln."
He moves towards the door, and she says, "Hey, maybe when this is all over, you can come by the Survivors Group and say 'Hello'? I think everyone would be happy to see you again."
Stopping at the door, Lincoln pauses and considers the suggestion. He slowly turns his head back to her and then exits the room.
Lincoln's desire to use was growing, but as he was about to exit the building, he was stopped by Chief Savino.
"Where are you going?" Savino asked.
Thinking on his feet, Lincoln replied, "I need to make a personal call."
"Can it wait?" Savino asked, "Have you finished the MP report?"
Lincoln can see Borden and Marlow through the Briefing Room window. Frustrated, he responds, "Just about. I'll bring it to you shortly."
He proceeded to the Briefing Room, where he sat at his desk and sifted through the Missing Person cases from the last ten years. While he researched the disappearances, the others read through a culled list of Jigsaw survivors and their last known whereabouts.
"Listen to this," Borden says, browsing a newspaper article, "Years after surviving Jigsaw's "final" test, "S.U.R.V.I.V.E" Author, Bobby Dagen, was found dead in his suburban home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound,'" He glances at Lincoln for a reaction, "Did you hear about this? … "While a suicide note was not present at the scene, it's speculated that he felt guilt for the death of his wife, Joyce… Dagen was outed as a fraud shortly after the death of John Kramer."
Borden sets the article down and comments, "Wrote a book called 'Survive' and then kills himself. No irony in that, huh?"
"How 'bout this," Marlow adds, "Mother and Son Killed in Car Accident Near Home Residence…." He traces the words with his finger, "It says Tara Abbot and her son Brent were killed in a collision after Tara lost control of the vehicle."
Listening to his colleagues recite the news articles, Lincoln couldn't help but imagine the victims' deaths. He keeps his emotions at bay and continues to glean information from the Missing Person files.
"Here's another one," Marlow says, "Jigsaw survivor, Mallick Scott, was pronounced dead today. After struggling with substance abuse, Scott was kidnapped and tortured by the infamous John Kramer... Neighbors reported a pungent odor next door, and the arriving officers discovered Mallick had overdosed on heroin and drowned in his pool…." Marlow looks at his colleagues solemnly, "He was found with a rubber band wrapped around his arm."
Borden squints his eyes and shakes his head, "This can't be a coincidence," he theorizes.
"What? You think they were murdered?" Marlow replies skeptically, "Who could do that?"
"Do you know Mark Hoffman? Do you know how many people he killed the night Jill Tuck died?" He took out three FBI Agents, including Peter Strahm, and a slew of cops."
"That was before I started," Marlow admits.
Lincoln turns to his associates and reveals, "Six of these Missing Person cases were also Jigsaw survivors; Joan Douglas and Morgan Tillman both disappeared four years ago, realtor Brit Stevenson from the Fatal Five trap, vanished three years ago. The list goes on."
A lite knock at the door indicates Logan's arrival. He enters the room with Agent Webb, holding pictures in his hand, "Detective," he says.
"Come in…"
He hands Lincoln an Autopsy Report, and Agent Webb stands beside him, "We've identified the tattooed woman. Her name was Pamela Jenkins. She was William Easton's sister."
"Another survivor." Unnerved, Lincoln asks, "What about the others?"
"Jeff Ridenhour never showed up," Borden said.
Marlow conjures a curious expression, "The Dentist?"
"Neurologist. He was lobotomizing patients…."
"Allegedly..." Lincoln adds.
Webb's face showed concern, "He hasn't called?"
"No, but Gavin Beck is under protection… Stupid, asshole," Borden said, "He wouldn't leave his house, so I got a patrol unit watching over him."
"I spoke with Neil Perri hours ago." Marlow notes, "He sounded drunk…."
"What did he say?" Lincoln asked.
"He wouldn't tell me where he was but said he'd be here… There's more. Simone Howard called out of work the last two days. Her manager received a text stating she was sick. I tried to reach her by phone, but no response."
Lincoln leans back, ruminating, "And Sarah Harper?"
"Nothing," Borden reveals, "but Chief Savino issued an All Points Bulletin on all of the survivors. We're putting her face on TV."
Stepping forward, Agent Webb asked, "Where's the tape from Gordon's apartment?"
"This way," Lincoln leads her to the VCR in the back of the room, "Did you find something?"
"Pamela Jenkins was investigating Jigsaw Copycats. We lost communication with her about a week ago."
Borden joins them at the TV, and Agent Webb rewinds the tape. Using the computer next to the VCR, she locates a folder from the cloud containing several videos. "Her last transmission was from this broadcast."
She presses play on the first recording, and they watch as a camera is positioned on the dashboard of a car.
Pamela captures the heavy clouds that filled the night sky. Raindrops exploded onto her windshield as she traveled up a gravel road towards a mysterious home. A black car was parked outside the house, but the license plate was out of view. She exited her vehicle and shielded her camera from the wind and rain.
"I've seen this before…." Lincoln said, "It was on the news the night Gordon died."
Agent Webb adjusts the footage, filtering it through different settings until everything is visible. The VCR has finished rewinding, and she links the tape with the content from the cellphone.
The front door is already open when Pamela tries knocking. She looks inside, "Hello? Is anybody here?"
The light switch doesn't seem to work, but Pamela proceeds cautiously into the residence and enters a nearby room. On the floor, she finds crayon drawings and children's toys.
"What are you hoping to find?" Lincoln asks.
"Hello?" Pamela repeats.
The body of a small puppet lays face down on the floor next to two small chairs. Upon turning it over, Pamela discovers the head has been smashed. Picking up one of the broken pieces, she realizes it's the Billy puppet Jigsaw would use in his traps. The doll starts to laugh, but it's labored and distorted. Next to the puppet, she finds a hammer and nails.
Pamela grabs the tool, "What the…?"
The front door slams shut, and Pamela yelps, frightened, but no one is there. Trembling, she holds the hammer in front of herself like a sword. The loud wind crashes against the frame of the building, and her nerves settle. She moves through the darkness and finds a door that leads into the next room. However, wooden boards have been nailed to the wall to prevent entry.
Setting her camera down but still recording herself, she uses the hammer to yank the nails out of the wood, one by one and then uses her strength to pry them from the wall. When the last board is removed, she grabs her camera and opens the door.
Two hands quickly pierce the darkness and rush towards her. A shirtless, emaciated man mumbles and grabs at Pamela, tearing her shirt. She drops her phone and attempts to fight him off, smacking him several times with the hammer. Blood spews from his head, and he collapses to the floor.
Pamela grabbed her phone and checked on the lifeless man; his mouth hung open, and she could see his tongue had been cut out. His body is filthy, and his fingers are covered in blood from scratching at the walls.
"Fuck! …Shit!" She says. The footage stops suddenly.
Agent Webb suggests, "We think she tried to call the police." She clicks on the following video.
The footage returns, and they can hear Pamela panting. She walks into the next room, where the man was held captive.
The light flickers as the battery dies on her phone, and they can hear her slapping the camera. Pamela is startled by the sudden appearance of a corpse with a rusty pipe impaled through its neck. The cadaver is a reddish-brown, having been deceased for some time.
"Oh my god," she says, positioning her camera closer to the body.
A bright light in the hallway turns on, and she tilts her camera towards the luminescence. She could now hear the alarming moans of someone in jeopardy through the walls.
Agent Webb inhales and grinds her teeth. Watching both monitors, they prepare for the next scene.
Pamela moves fearfully into the hallway. Her heart is racing, and a surveillance camera captures her every move. Several floorboards have detached from the foundation, and there are scratch marks on the walls as if someone was dragged. Her teeth chatter, and she proceeds nervously towards the muffled groans, the floorboards creaking with her every step.
A masked figure appears behind her, their presence announced by the audible floorboards, but before she can turn around, the hooded man smacks her in the head. The video ends, but the surveillance camera records her grisly fate.
Webb notices something on the wall and rewinds the tape for several seconds. She positions the computer next to the television, restarts the cellphone footage, and pauses the content when she sees the same marking.
"Do you see that?"
With both screens side-by-side, they can now see the symbol of Ankh.
Lincoln leans forward, "What does it mean?"
"The "Ankh" is the Egyptian symbol for Eternal Life," she says, "In the last message we received from Pamela, she said she was investigating the Gideon Meat Packing Plant. I think she followed that car to this location."
"It can't be too far from the plant," Borden theorizes.
"Did you notice the toys and chairs? I think this is a Children's DayCare… I'm going to pull up the city records…."
"Marlow can help you with that," Lincoln says, "Simone Howard doesn't live too far from here. Frank and I will go get her."
***
TO BE CONTINUED...

My list:
1) The Mangekyo Sharingan is the result of the Sharingan trying to evolve into the Rinnegan but failing due to lacking the body/chakra of the Sage of Six Paths/Otsutsuki Clan. This fanon comes from episode 462 of the Naruto Shippuden Anime, where Hagoromo awakened his three-tomoe Sharingan to the Rinnegan by killing his brother – though he revies Hamura. It also comes from the fact that Indra’s Mangekyo Sharingan design looks like a distorted/swirly Rinnegan design, which would make sense since he’s the son of Hagoromo and, therefore, his Sharingan should be close to evolving to the Rinnegan. But still can’t because he doesn’t have Asura’s chakra.
2) Building on the last fanon, the Mangekyo Sharingan’s powers cause blindness because the power is more than the Uchiha’s body and eye can handle, damaging both of them. Getting access to Asura’s power negates this. (Obito with H. Cells.)
3) The eternal Mangekyo Sharingan can only be gained if the second pair of eyes was given willingly by the sibling. There’s just something tragic and fitting for the Uchiha that their ultimate power can only be gained by their closest relative sacrificing themselves to become their light.
4) Yagura and Isobu never got along. Obito controlled Isobu before he was placed into Yagura to work with the Mizukage while also placing Yagura under his control to do his bidding. The plan was for the Fourth Mizukage to weaken the Mist by continuing the ‘Bloody Mist’ and then undo the genjutsu compelling Isobu to work with Yagura. Without a seal holding him back – since a perfect jinchuriki had no need for one – the three tails would rampage and destroy the weakened Hidden Mist. Yagura died before this happened, though.
5) In Boruto, the Otsutsuki are apparently supposed to sacrifice another Otsutsuki before eating the fruit. Kaguya didn’t. So, I like to think that her eating the fruit directly without sacrificing another Otsutsuki is what drove her insane. If she had (somehow) sacrificed Isshiki, she wouldn’t have gone crazy.
6) In Naruto Shippuden episode 461, Kaguya lives to go deal with something. In fact, she was going to deal with a human society using the Stone of Gelel to oppose her. Once she found out it makes one immortal/live for a very long time, she tried to get her hands on some for the sake of her children, who weren’t immortal and would’ve died in time. Her quest was for not as the Stone of Gelel ore was sealed away before she got her hands on it. I like this one because it not only ties into the movies and explains where Kaguya went during that episode, but it also shows her character. (Meaning destroying an entire civilization to get something for her sons and out of a want for control.)
7) Water-Walking is a Chunin-level skill that is normally taught after one achieves the rank of Chunin. In Boruto, the Shinobi education system has improved to the point that this is considered a basic skill taught in the academy.
8) At some point, Sai did a portrait of all members of Team 7 together and gave copies to everyone so they wouldn’t forget their time together.
9) Danzo loves strawberry ice cream.
10) The Hidden Sand Village is currently the best village when it comes to Sealing Jutsu – which is why most of the sealing during the Fourth Ninja War was done by them, and their Kage was the only one with sealing jutsu among the five. It’s also why Shinki is pretty good at it as well.
11) The Hidden Sand managed to seal the One-tails before the First Hokage got his hands on it due to the help of some Uzumaki passing by. Those Uzumaki ended up settling in the Hidden Sand and passing their sealing knowledge on. (Also, I honestly think that Gaara has a better claim to being part Uzumaki than someone random like Tayuya. Like, it’s easier for me to buy. Just my random thought.)
12) crystal Release and Wood Style are kekkei Totas.
13) Those with the body of the Sage of Six Paths/Six Path’s chakra can use any element, even Kekkei Genkai. This is why Madara can use Storm Release Light Fang in chapter 674 despite never having been shown to have the Storm Release Kekkei Genkai before. (And I can’t think of any other reason he’d have it.)
14) Boruto’s Jogan is the result of Hinata’s Otsutsuki chakra from The Last plus Naruto’s and the influence of chakra from the chakra fruit (Kurama’s chakra. Boruto’s whiskers show he’s been influenced by Kurama’s chakra.)
15) The Jogan inherited the ability to see negative emotions from Kurama’s ability to sense negative emotions.
16) The Uchiha are super religious. Any fic that explores this is awesome.
17) Naruto actually being good at pranks is fun.
18) Sasuke training till his hands bleed. It's raw and badass. (Though it makes me think he needs therapy even more.)
19) Only the Uzumaki can hold the Nine-Tails.
20) The Adamantine Sealing Chains only appear in female Uzumaki.
​
What are your favorite fanons?

I am 18+ and all participants and characters must also be 18+.
It was a sunny August day and I was in my car on the way to your house. I had my car all loaded up and strapped to the brim with items for the day. Today was the day for our first camping trip. I had always loved the outdoors and you did too, but you always liked to enjoy the outdoors from the comfort of your backyard and were a bit on the fence about being deep in the woods. I told you it would be fun and even promised you a fancy dinner if you agreed to go with me on this trip. You didn’t like the idea, but eventually you caved when I mentioned the fancy dinner. I made you a list of things that you should bring and told you to set off to get packing so you were ready when I arrived. A bit later on in the day, I got to your house and pulled into the driveway. I parked my car and went up to your door and rang the bell. You opened it up and right away handed me some of your belongings you wanted to pack. I chuckled and soon we had the car all loaded up with our things. We then got into the car and I drove off to the forest with you in tow - the thought of us getting lost in the woods the very last thing in our minds.
Thanks for reading this! If this is something that you’d be interested in feel free to chat me or comment on this post!

This story needs to be told. Those who have suffered must understand why. It’s not as simple as some have made it to be, which is why it needs to come from the person most responsible… me.
It began when I was least expecting it. But then don’t things always seem to happen that way?
***
“I’m tellin' ya, doc, people just don’t understand,” Frederick said while rocking back and forth in the chair.
“What exactly don’t they understand?” I said, trying to look more relaxed than I felt.
“There’s just something that takes over. You can’t stop it.”
“Impulse control?”
“What’s that mean?” Frederick said, struggling against his straight jacket, trying to get comfortable.
“It means that when you want to do something, you try your hardest not to. It means you try to control or suppress the urge to do things you know are bad.”
Frederick’s mouth lolled open. He narrowed his eyes in confusion.
“Why would I want to do that?”
I suppressed the urge to sigh.
“Because that’s what people do,” I said. “They think about doing bad things, but then they control themselves and don’t do them because those things are wrong and could hurt other people.”
“Hurting people is wrong?” he said.
“Yes, Frederick, hurting people is wrong.”
He shook his head as if he were trying to shake away a fly that was annoying him.
“Why?”
“Why is hurting people wrong?”
“No, why are you telling me this?”
“I don’t understand.”
“You’re saying I’m bad,” he said trying to rise from his chair. “You’re saying I didn’t need to hurt those people. That I’m a bad person.”
I got up from my chair and started backing toward the heavy metal door.
“I’m not bad!” he yelled at me. “You’re bad!”
I knocked on the door and the orderly opened it as Frederick got to his feet.
I slipped through the door as it slammed shut from the impact of his body slamming into it.
“Bad, bad, bad,” he screamed.
“Badbadbadbadbadbadbadbad!”
Spit flew from his mouth landing on the small observation window with metal grates embedded in it.
“You ok, doc,” the orderly said, startling me.
“Yes, I’m fine, thank you.”
I turned and walked down the white hallway, hoping the orderly wouldn’t notice the quickness in my step. I ignored the sound of Frederick beating on the door. I ignored all the sounds I heard. I just wanted to get away.
It was a long walk to my office, through many security gates. At each one, the nurse buzzed me through and gave me an acknowledging look that used to be a smile.
I suppose this place gets to everyone eventually.
I finally reached my office, closed and locked the door behind me, and collapsed into my chair. I breathed out a sigh of relief at reaching relative safety. I turned and looked out my window to the beautiful flowers blooming on the trees in the courtyard. I looked up at the tree stretching toward the sky.
I remember when they planted those.
I turned back to my center, my means of solace, the only thing that mattered in this cruel, unfair world. I picked up the picture of my lovely wife and smiled. She was the one who kept me sane all these years. She kept me seeing the best in people. Or at least trying. Sometimes there was no good to see—especially in my patients.
It takes a special kind of doctor to care for the mental needs of those who have done heinous things that are so bad they don’t even bother sending them to prison. They send them to me.
I’m like the dumpster for the dregs of society. Just drop them in the asylum and forget about them.
I kissed my wife and set her back on the bare desk, then turned on my computer and added notes from today’s session. There was never a recommendation for release. Once patients came here the only way they left was in a body bag. There was no curing them, only trying to make them docile until they left.
Oh, there were experiments. That was a large part of how we were funded. Companies would pay for certain tests to be done. Some might call it torture, but we called it research.
I finished typing my notes and leaned back in my seat. The diplomas and degrees stared down from their perches on the bare walls, mocking me. Demanding why I hadn’t gotten a better job.
As usual, I didn’t have an answer.
My office suddenly felt stuffy. I closed down my computer and left. Driving down the packed freeway, all I could think about was collapsing on the couch beside my lovely Elizabeth. Not telling her about my day until she dragged it out of me, then listening to her encourage me to help those who have been left in my care, because I’m the only hope they have.
Traffic was bumper to bumper and not helping my overall opinion of humanity much. Especially when a car that was swerving from lane to lane, nearly sideswiped me. It kept going on in front of me, nearly hitting several other cars.
The driver and passenger seemed to be having a disagreement about how to drive the car and it looked like it was about to come to blows.
Fortunately, they were soon out of sight, and someone else’s problem.
For the next few miles, I kept watching the side of the road waiting to see the offending car sitting in a ditch. However, they surprised me. They must’ve turned off to go terrorize some neighborhood streets with their reckless driving.
I hummed to myself, not wanting to have whatever dreck was on the radio forced on me.
When I was nearly to my exit, my phone rang. I immediately recognized the number as work. I contemplated answering it for a moment, then thought better of it. There had never been a time when work called with good news. And I was in no mood for bad news.
I hummed a little louder, trying to drown out the sound of the ring before it finally stopped.
The closer I got to home the less I thought about work and the more I thought about Elizabeth. Until I turned off at my exit, I had nearly forgotten work altogether. Maybe I would take tomorrow off and go do something with my wife. We hadn’t been out for a while. The weather had been lovely and I know she would adore a walk down by the lake.
My thoughts were interrupted when I turned down our driveway and saw a car in front of the house. It wasn’t quite in the driveway, it was sitting at an angle halfway in the front yard.
I parked my car and slowly got out. Something struck me about this car, but I hadn’t figured out what. I approached the driver’s side to have words with the person still sitting at the wheel.
“Excuse me,” I said staying a few steps back from the driver’s door.
He didn’t answer me.
“Excuse me,” I said a little louder.
Still no answer.
I tapped on the window and he ignored me.
I opened the door.
“Okay, look… “ I said.
But it was I who would do the looking. The man fell out of the car, thudding on the grass. The inside of the car was covered in blood. I looked down and the man’s throat had been cut.
“Oh my God!” I said jumping back.
I watched to see if the man was breathing, but the way his neck was bent at an unnatural angle against my yard told me everything I needed to know.
I glanced through the car but didn’t see the passenger.
It was then my eyes drifted to my front door.
It was open.
I stepped through the shrubs and up onto the porch, walking in a daze. The surrealness of the moment had yet to sink in. I was going inside to check on my wife and make sure everything was ok.
It didn’t strike me as anything more than that.
‘Oh, she just left the door open, that’s all.’
My mind kept trying to tell me that. I wanted desperately to believe it. Even though she had never been that careless during the entire time we’d been married. I had pushed aside all reason and common sense in favor of pure denial.
Everything was going to be ok. With Elizabeth, everything was always ok. She could literally light up a room with her positivity. She was the best person I ever knew. I have no idea how I got so lucky as to know her, let alone be her husband.
I floated in through my front door on my cloud of denial and looked for my wife.
It didn’t take me long to find her.
There was one wall of the living room she was constantly redecorating. She always said it looked bare and empty no matter what she did with it.
She was hanging from that wall, naked, her beautiful body desecrated by slices and rips. Her throat had been slit and blood still poured from it.
I ran to her.
Tried to take her down.
Screamed her name.
And then it was my turn to scream.
I looked down and saw a knife blade sticking out from my abdomen. It was part of the cutlery set I had gotten for Elizabeth three Christmases ago.
I screamed as I slowly turned to face my attacker.
“What’s up, doc?” Frederick said wearing a maniacal grin.
The shock had punched a hole in my reasoning. I saw him standing there, but I couldn’t accept it any more than I could accept my beautiful wife strung up like a macabre painting hanging on our living room wall.
My eyes tried to focus on his face. To make me recognize him as a threat.
“How’s that impulse control workin’ for ya, doc?”
He ripped the knife out of my back.
The pain, along with his arrogance woke me from my shock-induced stupor.
“Now do you understand?” he said, as he shoved the knife into my belly.
I did understand. I understood at that moment that I was already as dead as my wife. I knew that this piece of human garbage had taken something beautiful from this world. I knew I had to do something about it before there was nothing I could do. Before my body succumbed to injuries and I was unable.
I grabbed him by the throat. He tried to laugh, but my grip was fueled by desperation.
He tried to free himself but couldn’t. He began stabbing me over and over. I refused to release him. I carried him by his neck over to the kitchen counter and began bashing his head off the marble.
I was rewarded with spots of his blood. I knew at least I had made him bleed and that made me smile. His eyes grew wide as my grin grew maniacal. I smashed him repeatedly, crushing him against the sink, breaking the faucet, and causing water to spray into the air.
His eyelids fluttered as he lost his grip on the knife.
He was nearly gone. I would take him with me and that would be my parting gift to the world, removing something so evil.
Suddenly, my body wouldn’t obey commands. My grip loosened. I tried to tighten it, but I had lost all control. I looked down and I was standing in a pool of my own blood.
His eyes fluttered open and he coughed.
‘Nonononononono!’ I thought. ‘He can’t live. He can’t win. I had him.’
He stood as I sank to the floor.
“Looks like maybe you do understand, doc,” he said from what seemed like miles away. “Too bad you won’t be around to discuss it. We could have a session and evaluate how it makes you feel.”
His foot came down on my spine. I felt a crack. He started kicking me in the side repeatedly. Splashing water and blood on me as I felt my ribs crack.
I fought with everything I had.
My body didn’t even twitch.
‘Nooooo!,’ I screamed. ‘It can’t end like this.’
I heard a sizzling sound and then there was darkness.
***
I could feel movement.
Wasn’t I dead?
Was this what happened after?
It was still dark.
‘Hello?’ I tried to say.
Nothing. Just the sensation of movement.
Am I in a body bag? Am I on my way to the morgue or the grave? Please don’t let me be buried alive.
But I’m not alive, am I?
I don’t feel any pain. That’s a good thing, but not a good sign. The last thing I remember was lots of pain.
Suddenly there’s light and my movement stops.
I look up from the floor of a house I don’t recognize.
‘Where the hell am I?’
I’m on the floor next to a wall, looking up at an electrical outlet. Nothing around me seems familiar. I try to stand but it feels weird. It isn’t difficult, and there’s still no pain, it just carries an odd sensation with it. Like my body is just relearning things. Just like when I was a toddler. I teeter back and forth as I rise, but eventually, I’m upright.
My first few steps are tentative, but after that, I gain confidence with each stride.
Aside from the strange surroundings, there’s a sensation, like ants crawling all over me.
I pass a bathroom and glance inside. The reflection in the mirror draws me back. I slowly approach it, seeing something unique and terrifying.
It looks like someone drew an outline of a human form using a lightning bolt. The electricity shimmers and crackles as it races around the empty form of the being.
I wonder if it will hurt me.
Not sure if I want to test the limits of my newfound lack of pain, I hesitantly reach for this creature. It reaches for me at the same time. I’m mesmerized by this mutual curiosity.
My hand is about to touch the electric pulse shaped like its hand. I tremble with anticipation and fear as we touch.
Surprisingly, I don’t feel any pain. I don’t feel anything except a hard surface.
I move my hand back and forth. The creature does the same. I make quicker movements, and so does it.
Finally, out of frustration, I reach back and strike at the creature.
My hand strikes the hard surface and it splinters. There are now multiple creatures staring back at me.
I step back and come to the horrible realization.
I am the creature.
***
One month later…
“And police have been unable to find any credible leads in the string of brutal killings that began shortly after the patient escaped from the mental hospital last month,” the handsome anchorman stated from behind his desk. “They are asking people to call in if they know the whereabouts of Frederick Winston, now known as, ‘The Mangler’.”
“In other news, the Larsan Electric Company has issued a statement that the recent power surges are no cause for alarm. These surges seem to be random in people's homes and certain businesses. An LEC spokesman stated that there appears to be no pattern to the surges and that so far no one has reported them causing any harm. LEC is tracking down the problem and should have it under control soon.”
The anchorman shifted in his seat and turned to another camera.
“And on a lighter note, with Halloween months away, it seems that reports of ghosts are on the rise,” he said, wearing a half grin. “Several area residents have reported what they call a ghostlike figure, outlined in light, visiting them. Reports vary as to the duration and location of the visits, but they do seem to have a few things in common. The visits are usually short. In fact, most people say that if they blink the figure is gone. No one has reported the ghost doing any harm. And it seems like anyone within close proximity feels a tingling sensation and their hair standing on end.”
“Maybe I should be visited instead of my next hairdresser’s appointment,” the attractive woman anchor said with a laugh.
“Schedule me a visit too,” the male anchor said smiling. “And that’s our news for the evening, good night.”
Jimmy switched the channel.
“Gimme a break,” he said to the TV. “Ghosts? Who’s playing what? This’s some marketing scheme to sell Halloween crap. Like that stunt they pulled a few years back with the clowns hanging around the schools to promote that stupid movie.”
He switched off the TV and rolled over in his bed.
It wasn’t long before his breathing slowed. But before sleep could take him, he noticed a glow in the hallway. He didn’t remember leaving any lights on when he came to bed. Living alone had its advantages. If he heard someone in his apartment, he knew they weren’t supposed to be there. He slowly reached over to the bedstand and pulled out his Glock 9mm handgun, then held it close and listened.
He watched as the glow moved. It seemed like someone was looking around. But for what? He didn’t really have anything aside from his TV, phone, and video games. If anyone wanted those, they would be in a world of hurt. He had been lucky to get this apartment. If he was honest with himself, it cost more than he could afford, but when he had the chance he took it. It was too bad the opening came because the person who lived there before him was one of The Mangler’s victims. That’s probably why he was able to rent the place so quickly and get the price down to where he could almost afford it.
Maybe the glow was one of the street people who were stupid enough to see if there was an empty apartment to claim. That wasn’t gonna fly either. Jimmy had jumped on this apartment to get away from the dingy rat hole he used live in on the other side of town. And there was no way he’d let some bum come in here and take what was his.
The glow crept closer. He could feel the hairs on his arms raise. There was a sound too. It wasn’t loud, almost felt more than heard. A soft crackle, like electricity when it sparked.
The sensory input was almost too much for Jimmy to take. He pointed the gun in the direction of the glow and saw the barrel was shaking. His resolve, that he could deal with anyone as long as he had his gun, was beginning to fade.
The glow became so bright that it finally took form.
Jimmy’s eyes widened. It was the form of a person, just like the news had said.
It seemed to look around the room, then settle its gaze on the bed. Jimmy began to sweat as it approached and stared into his eyes.
It was the oddest thing, staring into what should be eyes, but nothing was there. The flashes of mini lightning bolts formed shapes that looked almost human, but it was just an outline, there was nothing inside what should be the body.
He shoved the shaking gun out from under the blanket and pointed it at the glowing figure.
The figure noted the presence of the gun, then continued to advance.
“S… stop,” Jimmy said. “I’m w… warning you.”
The figure ignored the warning.
Jimmy squeezed the trigger, setting off a deafening shot that went right through the face of the figure.
It acted as though nothing had happened, continuing to advance. The ringing in Jimmy’s ears made all sound seem muffled.
The figure stopped two inches from Jimmy’s face.
“Mangler… “ it said, sounding less like a voice and more like a transmission over an old staticky radio.
“I… I’m not the Mangler,” he said. “The person who used to live here was killed by him.”
It seemed to ponder this for a moment.
“Find Mangler… “ it said.
“I d… don’t know where to find him.”
It moved an inch closer. As the flashes of electricity arced, licked hungrily at Jimmy’s face.
“Find… him… “
“Ok, ok, I’ll find him,” Jimmy said, feeling the heat from the electricity.
The figure seemed to consider that for a moment then backed away. It moved toward the bedroom wall. Then, like someone had turned on a vacuum, it was sucked into an electrical outlet and disappeared.
Jimmy laid back in bed, breathing hard. His eyes darted left and right all around the room. But the only evidence of the figure that remained was the bullet hole in his bedroom wall.
***
The trips through the electrical conduits had become easier. There were still times when I came out someplace I didn’t intend to, but I was usually able to recover quickly and get to where I wanted to go.
But where did I want to go? At first, I wandered around, lost in this new form I found myself trapped inside. It was only after I had overheard a news report about the serial killer they called The Mangler that I gained my purpose.
Of course, Frederick was going to keep killing. Of course, they weren’t going to be able to catch him. He’d been inside away from his victims before and he didn’t like it. Not being able to torture and kill innocents was like a normal person not being able to breathe. Not that I know much about normal or breathing anymore.
I suppose on some level I should thank him. I thought about it for a long time and the only thing that makes any kind of sense is when we were fighting, somehow the water and blood I was laying in got splashed into the electrical socket. Instead of killing me, it bonded with me, making me able to become the electrical current. To ride it like a wave to wherever I wanted.
I became faster than any person ever was. And yet, I wasn’t a person anymore. I have no idea how I retained my consciousness, let alone my memory. But somehow…
I justify it by the old adage, ‘I think therefore I am.’
My life has become an endless hunt for the person who destroyed me, the person I must destroy. I don’t even know what I’ll do when I find him. But I will find him. I will stop him. This time, I won’t fail. I’ll end him like I should’ve before.
I owe it to the people he’s tortured and killed since my failure. Most of all, I owe it to my wife. I know she wouldn’t approve of my bloodlust. She would say there must be some other option. But if she would be able to see her dead body hanging naked from our living room wall, I think she just might change her mind.
My thoughts are interrupted as I arrive at my next destination, another victim’s house. I’m not sure what I’ll find that the police haven’t, but I have to try. Maybe I can pick up his scent somehow. A plan almost assuredly doomed to failure since I lost all sense of smell in the transformation.
I’m surprised though that I can still see and hear. I suppose waves of light and sound somehow intersect with my electrical body and it senses them. I don’t question it. I’ve learned to just go with it.
On the plus side, I don’t have to worry about eating, drinking, or using the bathroom. I guess there’s an upside to everything. Elizabeth would be so proud of me.
I arrive at the room where the victim was murdered. Looking around there’s still blood everywhere, along with evidence markers where they took pictures.
The sheer amount of blood tells me he took his time. He desecrated this girl in her own room. Her parents must’ve been out because there’s no way they didn’t hear the struggle. There were books on the floor, a chair overturned, and blood everywhere. The room was a disaster. It looked like she fought him. I wish she would’ve succeeded where I had failed.
But then, I wish I hadn’t failed, and this girl was still alive.
There’s nothing I can do now except find him and end him.
Finding him was proving more difficult than I thought. I had unlimited access to anywhere with electricity, but I couldn’t use a computer or a GPS. I was limited to transportation only through electricity. Granted that still made me the fastest being alive. I say being because I don’t think I qualify as human anymore. But I was limited to traveling to a place and then trying to find out where I was and if he was there.
If he knew I was searching for him all he would have to do is live the rest of his days in a cabin in the woods with no electricity. I’d never be able to reach him.
I believe two things worked in my favor with that theory.
First, I don’t think he’s that smart, and second, I don’t think he knows I’m looking for him. I believe that surviving our fight only further empowered him to kill. When someone feels invincible, they’re bound to make a mistake.
An officer walked into the room and I ducked back into an outlet. I was able to hang on where I was and watch from inside the outlet without being transported somewhere else.
The officer looked startled and stared at the empty air that I had just vacated. She looked like she was unsure if she trusted what her eyes had seen in the instant before I vanished.
She slowly stepped over to the corner and bent down to peer into the outlet. For a moment I wondered if she could see me, and what exactly she would see. But then her radio squawked calling her to another scene. When I heard the voice on the radio say the address and that they might have the killer cornered, I didn’t waste any time.
It was maybe fifteen seconds until I was across town at the address I’d heard. There was a lot of screaming and crying going on. I came out of the outlet and saw blood on the floor beside a body that wasn’t moving.
There was a girl being beaten by a man with his back to me. He turned to take another swing and I knew my search was over.
“My psychiatrist used to tell me I needed to work on my impulse control,” he said calmly as he slapped her. “I think I’m doing pretty good. I’ve been here ten whole minutes and you’re still alive.”
I shot across the room and knocked him to the floor. He jumped back up and looked around for what had hit him.
“What the hell?”
I saw the fear in his eyes when he saw me. I know Elizabeth would’ve been ashamed, of me, but I was enjoying his anxiety. After all he had done to me and so many others, I drank it in like an elixir.
He started edging toward the door. I was there in a heartbeat. His eyes darted back and forth between where I used to be and where I now stood. The panic in his eyes doubled.
I wanted to make him suffer, but I didn’t want to make the same mistake I’d made before and let him escape with his life.
I lashed out with a bolt that used to be my arm. The energy slashed through his shirt and fried a hole in his shoulder.
He screamed in pain and horror as he looked at the smoking hole in his skin. He tried to run but in an instant, I was there in front of him firing another bolt and searing the skin across his waist to his jeans.
His screams of pain and rage were only matched by the feral desperation in his eyes.
Not knowing what do to, he went with the familiar. Attack the innocent. He grabbed the girl who had been crawling away from the scene.
He grabbed her again and held her in front of him like a human shield.
What a waste of skin.
I fired a bolt into a ceiling light beside me which ricocheted and hit him full force in the leg, nearly severing it.
He went down like a ton of bricks, trying to hold on to his hostage, but she was fighting to get away from him. She broke free and he crumpled to the floor.
“What do you want?” he screamed at me.
With everything that is within me, I wanted to tell him who I was, what he had taken from me, and what I was about to take from him.
But I didn’t want to give the satisfaction. I wanted to give him only uncertainty and fear to cling to.
I could feel the seconds ticking away. I knew I had to make the most of this opportunity or he would get away again. And after this, I might never find him.
I unleashed every ounce of energy at him. I couldn’t even see him, he was only a smoking pillar of frying skin.
Just then, the police burst through the door.
“FREE… “ the first officer started then the shock of what he was seeing stole the rest of the word from his mouth.
He stood there, mouth agape when the female officer stepped in behind him. She looked at me and her wide eyes narrowed as she put two and two together and recognized me from the last crime scene.
I had no reason to fear. I didn’t know if I could even be harmed in my current state. But when you see that blue uniform burst through a door with a gun aimed at you, all rational thought takes a vacation.
I dove for the outlet and was gone. I didn’t even care where I was going. I knew I had done what I wanted to. The monster was destroyed.
Something felt different. Was it pride at finishing my crusade? Was it shame knowing Elizabeth wouldn’t have wanted me to do it?
I don’t know but there was something else. It was like there was added weight to my existence. I guess you can have a conscious in whatever you’d call this existence.
I appeared in the place that made the most sense, ironically. It was my old home. The one where everything I loved died, including me. It was where I took on this unintended new existence.
Is that why I felt this extra weight? Was it some cathartic aftereffect of my search for revenge that was finally over?
I looked around the charred debris of what used to be my home. In my mind's eye, I didn’t see the burned-out shell of what was left. I saw it as it was when we first moved in. When Elizabeth and I started decorating. When the interior was finally finished and I turned to her and said, “For now.” Knowing she would decide to change everything at some time in the future when she was bored, just like all women seem to do.
I remember getting a paintbrush across the mouth for that comment. I smiled remembering kissing her with my freshly painted mouth and ending up in the bedroom.
As I turned toward where I’d entered the house, my smile quickly faded. For some reason, I was still connected to the outlet. That had never happened before.
Another curiosity arose when I noticed the color of my electrical body was now tinged purple. It had always been blue before.
The tail of what had yet to come out of the outlet was red. As I pulled and it came the rest of the way out, it merged with me and turned purple.
“What the hell?” I heard someone say.
I whipped around but no one was there.
“Where am I?” the voice said.
“Who are you?” I said to the air.
There was a long silence.
“Doc?” the voice said.
As far as I knew it wasn’t possible for my spine to turn to ice, since I no longer had a spine, but the feeling seemed the same.
“Frederick?” I said.
“What happened?” he said. “This crazy electric thing attacked me and now… wait a minute. How am I talking to you? You died months ago.”
My shock gave way to utter despair. My enemy was now part of me.

This story needs to be told. Those who have suffered must understand why. It’s not as simple as some have made it to be, which is why it needs to come from the person most responsible… me.
It began when I was least expecting it. But then don’t things always seem to happen that way?
***
“I’m tellin' ya, doc, people just don’t understand,” Frederick said while rocking back and forth in the chair.
“What exactly don’t they understand?” I said, trying to look more relaxed than I felt.
“There’s just something that takes over. You can’t stop it.”
“Impulse control?”
“What’s that mean?” Frederick said, struggling against his straight jacket, trying to get comfortable.
“It means that when you want to do something, you try your hardest not to. It means you try to control or suppress the urge to do things you know are bad.”
Frederick’s mouth lolled open. He narrowed his eyes in confusion.
“Why would I want to do that?”
I suppressed the urge to sigh.
“Because that’s what people do,” I said. “They think about doing bad things, but then they control themselves and don’t do them because those things are wrong and could hurt other people.”
“Hurting people is wrong?” he said.
“Yes, Frederick, hurting people is wrong.”
He shook his head as if he were trying to shake away a fly that was annoying him.
“Why?”
“Why is hurting people wrong?”
“No, why are you telling me this?”
“I don’t understand.”
“You’re saying I’m bad,” he said trying to rise from his chair. “You’re saying I didn’t need to hurt those people. That I’m a bad person.”
I got up from my chair and started backing toward the heavy metal door.
“I’m not bad!” he yelled at me. “You’re bad!”
I knocked on the door and the orderly opened it as Frederick got to his feet.
I slipped through the door as it slammed shut from the impact of his body slamming into it.
“Bad, bad, bad,” he screamed.
“Badbadbadbadbadbadbadbad!”
Spit flew from his mouth landing on the small observation window with metal grates embedded in it.
“You ok, doc,” the orderly said, startling me.
“Yes, I’m fine, thank you.”
I turned and walked down the white hallway, hoping the orderly wouldn’t notice the quickness in my step. I ignored the sound of Frederick beating on the door. I ignored all the sounds I heard. I just wanted to get away.
It was a long walk to my office, through many security gates. At each one, the nurse buzzed me through and gave me an acknowledging look that used to be a smile.
I suppose this place gets to everyone eventually.
I finally reached my office, closed and locked the door behind me, and collapsed into my chair. I breathed out a sigh of relief at reaching relative safety. I turned and looked out my window to the beautiful flowers blooming on the trees in the courtyard. I looked up at the tree stretching toward the sky.
I remember when they planted those.
I turned back to my center, my means of solace, the only thing that mattered in this cruel, unfair world. I picked up the picture of my lovely wife and smiled. She was the one who kept me sane all these years. She kept me seeing the best in people. Or at least trying. Sometimes there was no good to see—especially in my patients.
It takes a special kind of doctor to care for the mental needs of those who have done heinous things that are so bad they don’t even bother sending them to prison. They send them to me.
I’m like the dumpster for the dregs of society. Just drop them in the asylum and forget about them.
I kissed my wife and set her back on the bare desk, then turned on my computer and added notes from today’s session. There was never a recommendation for release. Once patients came here the only way they left was in a body bag. There was no curing them, only trying to make them docile until they left.
Oh, there were experiments. That was a large part of how we were funded. Companies would pay for certain tests to be done. Some might call it torture, but we called it research.
I finished typing my notes and leaned back in my seat. The diplomas and degrees stared down from their perches on the bare walls, mocking me. Demanding why I hadn’t gotten a better job.
As usual, I didn’t have an answer.
My office suddenly felt stuffy. I closed down my computer and left. Driving down the packed freeway, all I could think about was collapsing on the couch beside my lovely Elizabeth. Not telling her about my day until she dragged it out of me, then listening to her encourage me to help those who have been left in my care, because I’m the only hope they have.
Traffic was bumper to bumper and not helping my overall opinion of humanity much. Especially when a car that was swerving from lane to lane, nearly sideswiped me. It kept going on in front of me, nearly hitting several other cars.
The driver and passenger seemed to be having a disagreement about how to drive the car and it looked like it was about to come to blows.
Fortunately, they were soon out of sight, and someone else’s problem.
For the next few miles, I kept watching the side of the road waiting to see the offending car sitting in a ditch. However, they surprised me. They must’ve turned off to go terrorize some neighborhood streets with their reckless driving.
I hummed to myself, not wanting to have whatever dreck was on the radio forced on me.
When I was nearly to my exit, my phone rang. I immediately recognized the number as work. I contemplated answering it for a moment, then thought better of it. There had never been a time when work called with good news. And I was in no mood for bad news.
I hummed a little louder, trying to drown out the sound of the ring before it finally stopped.
The closer I got to home the less I thought about work and the more I thought about Elizabeth. Until I turned off at my exit, I had nearly forgotten work altogether. Maybe I would take tomorrow off and go do something with my wife. We hadn’t been out for a while. The weather had been lovely and I know she would adore a walk down by the lake.
My thoughts were interrupted when I turned down our driveway and saw a car in front of the house. It wasn’t quite in the driveway, it was sitting at an angle halfway in the front yard.
I parked my car and slowly got out. Something struck me about this car, but I hadn’t figured out what. I approached the driver’s side to have words with the person still sitting at the wheel.
“Excuse me,” I said staying a few steps back from the driver’s door.
He didn’t answer me.
“Excuse me,” I said a little louder.
Still no answer.
I tapped on the window and he ignored me.
I opened the door.
“Okay, look… “ I said.
But it was I who would do the looking. The man fell out of the car, thudding on the grass. The inside of the car was covered in blood. I looked down and the man’s throat had been cut.
“Oh my God!” I said jumping back.
I watched to see if the man was breathing, but the way his neck was bent at an unnatural angle against my yard told me everything I needed to know.
I glanced through the car but didn’t see the passenger.
It was then my eyes drifted to my front door.
It was open.
I stepped through the shrubs and up onto the porch, walking in a daze. The surrealness of the moment had yet to sink in. I was going inside to check on my wife and make sure everything was ok.
It didn’t strike me as anything more than that.
‘Oh, she just left the door open, that’s all.’
My mind kept trying to tell me that. I wanted desperately to believe it. Even though she had never been that careless during the entire time we’d been married. I had pushed aside all reason and common sense in favor of pure denial.
Everything was going to be ok. With Elizabeth, everything was always ok. She could literally light up a room with her positivity. She was the best person I ever knew. I have no idea how I got so lucky as to know her, let alone be her husband.
I floated in through my front door on my cloud of denial and looked for my wife.
It didn’t take me long to find her.
There was one wall of the living room she was constantly redecorating. She always said it looked bare and empty no matter what she did with it.
She was hanging from that wall, naked, her beautiful body desecrated by slices and rips. Her throat had been slit and blood still poured from it.
I ran to her.
Tried to take her down.
Screamed her name.
And then it was my turn to scream.
I looked down and saw a knife blade sticking out from my abdomen. It was part of the cutlery set I had gotten for Elizabeth three Christmases ago.
I screamed as I slowly turned to face my attacker.
“What’s up, doc?” Frederick said wearing a maniacal grin.
The shock had punched a hole in my reasoning. I saw him standing there, but I couldn’t accept it any more than I could accept my beautiful wife strung up like a macabre painting hanging on our living room wall.
My eyes tried to focus on his face. To make me recognize him as a threat.
“How’s that impulse control workin’ for ya, doc?”
He ripped the knife out of my back.
The pain, along with his arrogance woke me from my shock-induced stupor.
“Now do you understand?” he said, as he shoved the knife into my belly.
I did understand. I understood at that moment that I was already as dead as my wife. I knew that this piece of human garbage had taken something beautiful from this world. I knew I had to do something about it before there was nothing I could do. Before my body succumbed to injuries and I was unable.
I grabbed him by the throat. He tried to laugh, but my grip was fueled by desperation.
He tried to free himself but couldn’t. He began stabbing me over and over. I refused to release him. I carried him by his neck over to the kitchen counter and began bashing his head off the marble.
I was rewarded with spots of his blood. I knew at least I had made him bleed and that made me smile. His eyes grew wide as my grin grew maniacal. I smashed him repeatedly, crushing him against the sink, breaking the faucet, and causing water to spray into the air.
His eyelids fluttered as he lost his grip on the knife.
He was nearly gone. I would take him with me and that would be my parting gift to the world, removing something so evil.
Suddenly, my body wouldn’t obey commands. My grip loosened. I tried to tighten it, but I had lost all control. I looked down and I was standing in a pool of my own blood.
His eyes fluttered open and he coughed.
‘Nonononononono!’ I thought. ‘He can’t live. He can’t win. I had him.’
He stood as I sank to the floor.
“Looks like maybe you do understand, doc,” he said from what seemed like miles away. “Too bad you won’t be around to discuss it. We could have a session and evaluate how it makes you feel.”
His foot came down on my spine. I felt a crack. He started kicking me in the side repeatedly. Splashing water and blood on me as I felt my ribs crack.
I fought with everything I had.
My body didn’t even twitch.
‘Nooooo!,’ I screamed. ‘It can’t end like this.’
I heard a sizzling sound and then there was darkness.
***
I could feel movement.
Wasn’t I dead?
Was this what happened after?
It was still dark.
‘Hello?’ I tried to say.
Nothing. Just the sensation of movement.
Am I in a body bag? Am I on my way to the morgue or the grave? Please don’t let me be buried alive.
But I’m not alive, am I?
I don’t feel any pain. That’s a good thing, but not a good sign. The last thing I remember was lots of pain.
Suddenly there’s light and my movement stops.
I look up from the floor of a house I don’t recognize.
‘Where the hell am I?’
I’m on the floor next to a wall, looking up at an electrical outlet. Nothing around me seems familiar. I try to stand but it feels weird. It isn’t difficult, and there’s still no pain, it just carries an odd sensation with it. Like my body is just relearning things. Just like when I was a toddler. I teeter back and forth as I rise, but eventually, I’m upright.
My first few steps are tentative, but after that, I gain confidence with each stride.
Aside from the strange surroundings, there’s a sensation, like ants crawling all over me.
I pass a bathroom and glance inside. The reflection in the mirror draws me back. I slowly approach it, seeing something unique and terrifying.
It looks like someone drew an outline of a human form using a lightning bolt. The electricity shimmers and crackles as it races around the empty form of the being.
I wonder if it will hurt me.
Not sure if I want to test the limits of my newfound lack of pain, I hesitantly reach for this creature. It reaches for me at the same time. I’m mesmerized by this mutual curiosity.
My hand is about to touch the electric pulse shaped like its hand. I tremble with anticipation and fear as we touch.
Surprisingly, I don’t feel any pain. I don’t feel anything except a hard surface.
I move my hand back and forth. The creature does the same. I make quicker movements, and so does it.
Finally, out of frustration, I reach back and strike at the creature.
My hand strikes the hard surface and it splinters. There are now multiple creatures staring back at me.
I step back and come to the horrible realization.
I am the creature.
***
One month later…
“And police have been unable to find any credible leads in the string of brutal killings that began shortly after the patient escaped from the mental hospital last month,” the handsome anchorman stated from behind his desk. “They are asking people to call in if they know the whereabouts of Frederick Winston, now known as, ‘The Mangler’.”
“In other news, the Larsan Electric Company has issued a statement that the recent power surges are no cause for alarm. These surges seem to be random in people's homes and certain businesses. An LEC spokesman stated that there appears to be no pattern to the surges and that so far no one has reported them causing any harm. LEC is tracking down the problem and should have it under control soon.”
The anchorman shifted in his seat and turned to another camera.
“And on a lighter note, with Halloween months away, it seems that reports of ghosts are on the rise,” he said, wearing a half grin. “Several area residents have reported what they call a ghostlike figure, outlined in light, visiting them. Reports vary as to the duration and location of the visits, but they do seem to have a few things in common. The visits are usually short. In fact, most people say that if they blink the figure is gone. No one has reported the ghost doing any harm. And it seems like anyone within close proximity feels a tingling sensation and their hair standing on end.”
“Maybe I should be visited instead of my next hairdresser’s appointment,” the attractive woman anchor said with a laugh.
“Schedule me a visit too,” the male anchor said smiling. “And that’s our news for the evening, good night.”
Jimmy switched the channel.
“Gimme a break,” he said to the TV. “Ghosts? Who’s playing what? This’s some marketing scheme to sell Halloween crap. Like that stunt they pulled a few years back with the clowns hanging around the schools to promote that stupid movie.”
He switched off the TV and rolled over in his bed.
It wasn’t long before his breathing slowed. But before sleep could take him, he noticed a glow in the hallway. He didn’t remember leaving any lights on when he came to bed. Living alone had its advantages. If he heard someone in his apartment, he knew they weren’t supposed to be there. He slowly reached over to the bedstand and pulled out his Glock 9mm handgun, then held it close and listened.
He watched as the glow moved. It seemed like someone was looking around. But for what? He didn’t really have anything aside from his TV, phone, and video games. If anyone wanted those, they would be in a world of hurt. He had been lucky to get this apartment. If he was honest with himself, it cost more than he could afford, but when he had the chance he took it. It was too bad the opening came because the person who lived there before him was one of The Mangler’s victims. That’s probably why he was able to rent the place so quickly and get the price down to where he could almost afford it.
Maybe the glow was one of the street people who were stupid enough to see if there was an empty apartment to claim. That wasn’t gonna fly either. Jimmy had jumped on this apartment to get away from the dingy rat hole he used live in on the other side of town. And there was no way he’d let some bum come in here and take what was his.
The glow crept closer. He could feel the hairs on his arms raise. There was a sound too. It wasn’t loud, almost felt more than heard. A soft crackle, like electricity when it sparked.
The sensory input was almost too much for Jimmy to take. He pointed the gun in the direction of the glow and saw the barrel was shaking. His resolve, that he could deal with anyone as long as he had his gun, was beginning to fade.
The glow became so bright that it finally took form.
Jimmy’s eyes widened. It was the form of a person, just like the news had said.
It seemed to look around the room, then settle its gaze on the bed. Jimmy began to sweat as it approached and stared into his eyes.
It was the oddest thing, staring into what should be eyes, but nothing was there. The flashes of mini lightning bolts formed shapes that looked almost human, but it was just an outline, there was nothing inside what should be the body.
He shoved the shaking gun out from under the blanket and pointed it at the glowing figure.
The figure noted the presence of the gun, then continued to advance.
“S… stop,” Jimmy said. “I’m w… warning you.”
The figure ignored the warning.
Jimmy squeezed the trigger, setting off a deafening shot that went right through the face of the figure.
It acted as though nothing had happened, continuing to advance. The ringing in Jimmy’s ears made all sound seem muffled.
The figure stopped two inches from Jimmy’s face.
“Mangler… “ it said, sounding less like a voice and more like a transmission over an old staticky radio.
“I… I’m not the Mangler,” he said. “The person who used to live here was killed by him.”
It seemed to ponder this for a moment.
“Find Mangler… “ it said.
“I d… don’t know where to find him.”
It moved an inch closer. As the flashes of electricity arced, licked hungrily at Jimmy’s face.
“Find… him… “
“Ok, ok, I’ll find him,” Jimmy said, feeling the heat from the electricity.
The figure seemed to consider that for a moment then backed away. It moved toward the bedroom wall. Then, like someone had turned on a vacuum, it was sucked into an electrical outlet and disappeared.
Jimmy laid back in bed, breathing hard. His eyes darted left and right all around the room. But the only evidence of the figure that remained was the bullet hole in his bedroom wall.
***
The trips through the electrical conduits had become easier. There were still times when I came out someplace I didn’t intend to, but I was usually able to recover quickly and get to where I wanted to go.
But where did I want to go? At first, I wandered around, lost in this new form I found myself trapped inside. It was only after I had overheard a news report about the serial killer they called The Mangler that I gained my purpose.
Of course, Frederick was going to keep killing. Of course, they weren’t going to be able to catch him. He’d been inside away from his victims before and he didn’t like it. Not being able to torture and kill innocents was like a normal person not being able to breathe. Not that I know much about normal or breathing anymore.
I suppose on some level I should thank him. I thought about it for a long time and the only thing that makes any kind of sense is when we were fighting, somehow the water and blood I was laying in got splashed into the electrical socket. Instead of killing me, it bonded with me, making me able to become the electrical current. To ride it like a wave to wherever I wanted.
I became faster than any person ever was. And yet, I wasn’t a person anymore. I have no idea how I retained my consciousness, let alone my memory. But somehow…
I justify it by the old adage, ‘I think therefore I am.’
My life has become an endless hunt for the person who destroyed me, the person I must destroy. I don’t even know what I’ll do when I find him. But I will find him. I will stop him. This time, I won’t fail. I’ll end him like I should’ve before.
I owe it to the people he’s tortured and killed since my failure. Most of all, I owe it to my wife. I know she wouldn’t approve of my bloodlust. She would say there must be some other option. But if she would be able to see her dead body hanging naked from our living room wall, I think she just might change her mind.
My thoughts are interrupted as I arrive at my next destination, another victim’s house. I’m not sure what I’ll find that the police haven’t, but I have to try. Maybe I can pick up his scent somehow. A plan almost assuredly doomed to failure since I lost all sense of smell in the transformation.
I’m surprised though that I can still see and hear. I suppose waves of light and sound somehow intersect with my electrical body and it senses them. I don’t question it. I’ve learned to just go with it.
On the plus side, I don’t have to worry about eating, drinking, or using the bathroom. I guess there’s an upside to everything. Elizabeth would be so proud of me.
I arrive at the room where the victim was murdered. Looking around there’s still blood everywhere, along with evidence markers where they took pictures.
The sheer amount of blood tells me he took his time. He desecrated this girl in her own room. Her parents must’ve been out because there’s no way they didn’t hear the struggle. There were books on the floor, a chair overturned, and blood everywhere. The room was a disaster. It looked like she fought him. I wish she would’ve succeeded where I had failed.
But then, I wish I hadn’t failed, and this girl was still alive.
There’s nothing I can do now except find him and end him.
Finding him was proving more difficult than I thought. I had unlimited access to anywhere with electricity, but I couldn’t use a computer or a GPS. I was limited to transportation only through electricity. Granted that still made me the fastest being alive. I say being because I don’t think I qualify as human anymore. But I was limited to traveling to a place and then trying to find out where I was and if he was there.
If he knew I was searching for him all he would have to do is live the rest of his days in a cabin in the woods with no electricity. I’d never be able to reach him.
I believe two things worked in my favor with that theory.
First, I don’t think he’s that smart, and second, I don’t think he knows I’m looking for him. I believe that surviving our fight only further empowered him to kill. When someone feels invincible, they’re bound to make a mistake.
An officer walked into the room and I ducked back into an outlet. I was able to hang on where I was and watch from inside the outlet without being transported somewhere else.
The officer looked startled and stared at the empty air that I had just vacated. She looked like she was unsure if she trusted what her eyes had seen in the instant before I vanished.
She slowly stepped over to the corner and bent down to peer into the outlet. For a moment I wondered if she could see me, and what exactly she would see. But then her radio squawked calling her to another scene. When I heard the voice on the radio say the address and that they might have the killer cornered, I didn’t waste any time.
It was maybe fifteen seconds until I was across town at the address I’d heard. There was a lot of screaming and crying going on. I came out of the outlet and saw blood on the floor beside a body that wasn’t moving.
There was a girl being beaten by a man with his back to me. He turned to take another swing and I knew my search was over.
“My psychiatrist used to tell me I needed to work on my impulse control,” he said calmly as he slapped her. “I think I’m doing pretty good. I’ve been here ten whole minutes and you’re still alive.”
I shot across the room and knocked him to the floor. He jumped back up and looked around for what had hit him.
“What the hell?”
I saw the fear in his eyes when he saw me. I know Elizabeth would’ve been ashamed, of me, but I was enjoying his anxiety. After all he had done to me and so many others, I drank it in like an elixir.
He started edging toward the door. I was there in a heartbeat. His eyes darted back and forth between where I used to be and where I now stood. The panic in his eyes doubled.
I wanted to make him suffer, but I didn’t want to make the same mistake I’d made before and let him escape with his life.
I lashed out with a bolt that used to be my arm. The energy slashed through his shirt and fried a hole in his shoulder.
He screamed in pain and horror as he looked at the smoking hole in his skin. He tried to run but in an instant, I was there in front of him firing another bolt and searing the skin across his waist to his jeans.
His screams of pain and rage were only matched by the feral desperation in his eyes.
Not knowing what do to, he went with the familiar. Attack the innocent. He grabbed the girl who had been crawling away from the scene.
He grabbed her again and held her in front of him like a human shield.
What a waste of skin.
I fired a bolt into a ceiling light beside me which ricocheted and hit him full force in the leg, nearly severing it.
He went down like a ton of bricks, trying to hold on to his hostage, but she was fighting to get away from him. She broke free and he crumpled to the floor.
“What do you want?” he screamed at me.
With everything that is within me, I wanted to tell him who I was, what he had taken from me, and what I was about to take from him.
But I didn’t want to give the satisfaction. I wanted to give him only uncertainty and fear to cling to.
I could feel the seconds ticking away. I knew I had to make the most of this opportunity or he would get away again. And after this, I might never find him.
I unleashed every ounce of energy at him. I couldn’t even see him, he was only a smoking pillar of frying skin.
Just then, the police burst through the door.
“FREE… “ the first officer started then the shock of what he was seeing stole the rest of the word from his mouth.
He stood there, mouth agape when the female officer stepped in behind him. She looked at me and her wide eyes narrowed as she put two and two together and recognized me from the last crime scene.
I had no reason to fear. I didn’t know if I could even be harmed in my current state. But when you see that blue uniform burst through a door with a gun aimed at you, all rational thought takes a vacation.
I dove for the outlet and was gone. I didn’t even care where I was going. I knew I had done what I wanted to. The monster was destroyed.
Something felt different. Was it pride at finishing my crusade? Was it shame knowing Elizabeth wouldn’t have wanted me to do it?
I don’t know but there was something else. It was like there was added weight to my existence. I guess you can have a conscious in whatever you’d call this existence.
I appeared in the place that made the most sense, ironically. It was my old home. The one where everything I loved died, including me. It was where I took on this unintended new existence.
Is that why I felt this extra weight? Was it some cathartic aftereffect of my search for revenge that was finally over?
I looked around the charred debris of what used to be my home. In my mind's eye, I didn’t see the burned-out shell of what was left. I saw it as it was when we first moved in. When Elizabeth and I started decorating. When the interior was finally finished and I turned to her and said, “For now.” Knowing she would decide to change everything at some time in the future when she was bored, just like all women seem to do.
I remember getting a paintbrush across the mouth for that comment. I smiled remembering kissing her with my freshly painted mouth and ending up in the bedroom.
As I turned toward where I’d entered the house, my smile quickly faded. For some reason, I was still connected to the outlet. That had never happened before.
Another curiosity arose when I noticed the color of my electrical body was now tinged purple. It had always been blue before.
The tail of what had yet to come out of the outlet was red. As I pulled and it came the rest of the way out, it merged with me and turned purple.
“What the hell?” I heard someone say.
I whipped around but no one was there.
“Where am I?” the voice said.
“Who are you?” I said to the air.
There was a long silence.
“Doc?” the voice said.
As far as I knew it wasn’t possible for my spine to turn to ice, since I no longer had a spine, but the feeling seemed the same.
“Frederick?” I said.
“What happened?” he said. “This crazy electric thing attacked me and now… wait a minute. How am I talking to you? You died months ago.”
My shock gave way to utter despair. My enemy was now part of me.

My (20f) now ex-boyfriend (21m) of 2.75 years just broke up with me 14 hours ago and I have no idea how to proceed. He isn't my first boyfriend, and he isn't my first big breakup, but this one is so different. We've been together since I was 17 and he was 18. We both struggle with personal insecurities and mental illness and yes, not all of it was healthy. But we would try and talk and work on a solution and move forward. He proposed to me (crazy, yes, I know we're very young and everything). We were so very open about when we would feel any sort of way in our relationship, or at least we would try our best to be. I had resigned my life to him. I trusted him with my heart, mind, body, soul, matter, and person - all of it. I was secure, I was comfortable. Every time a big fight would happen, I'd get extremely anxious and just tell him that he can break up with me. Every single time I would say that, he'd say that I couldn't get rid of him, that he wasn't going anywhere, that he promises we were going to grow old together.
Today, we were having a very emotional conversation once again about our personal insecurities and our feelings about what was going on - as I said, trying to be very open and communicative. I started it by saying that I think I was making him feel unloved, making him feel convenient, which he echoed. After talking back and forth, he kind of essentially said that he felt that he was toxic to me and that he felt like he made his life revolve around me and obviously that's unhealthy. And broke up with me right then and there.
A few hours later, once things had cooled down a little bit, we had a face-to-face. He said that he wasn't sure if he was even happy, because he felt like his happiness was dependent on my happiness. He literally said "It's not you, it's me" and everything. He said he still loves me and doesn't want anybody but me, but that he's done forever and that he has no intention of ever getting back together. He then left, texted me that he was home safe, that he loves me, and goodnight. Like every night. Which drove me nuts, because it just felt so unfair.
Anyway, currently, I'm going insane. I have texted him 3 times just to immediately unsend them (we are both on the new IOS so we both have that feature). At 6 am I went to Walmart to get ice cream, as I haven't been able to sleep because I can't sleep knowing I won't see him again. I have looked up our college's couple counseling program. I've made an appointment just now with our college's therapy service. I am sitting here writing this post when I have an organic chemistry exam on Sunday.
Religious note: (please don't read if you're going to just bash my religion/beliefs) We're both Christian. And I'm so scared to pray right now, because if I pray for us to get back together, then that kind of means it wasn't in God's plan all along for us to stay through the end. And I'm also so scared to pray right now, because then it means this was all for me to get closer to Him, and this was yet just another "experience" in my life. And finally, I'm so scared to pray/get close to God because of how long I've been so far away. How praying and getting close to him right now just means that I only run to him in times of deep pain.
I mean, I'll still see him here and there. We're still running in all the same friend circles, and our dads are friends, and I'm going as low contact as possible out of respect for his decision. But holy fuck, I just have no idea what's going on - I feel like I'm in the middle of the ocean and I can't see land. Like, I know I'll reach land if I just keep swimming toward a direction, but right now, I'm lost, numb, heartbroken, and going insane all at once.
He laid down the foundation for no hope, but I can't help but believe we're going to work out in the end. I just needed to get this off of my chest.

A caveat: all of my Swiss Army Knives are strictly for urban carry. Although I have enjoyed the great outdoors in the past, right now its not something I have time for.

When I bought my first Swiss Army Knife, I was dazzled by the tools and the options. I bought a 4-layer Tinker Deluxe, because I thought “there’s no way I can live without scissors and teeny tiny pliers,” and almost to prove people wrong that its “too large to hold or pocket carry”, because I’m a giant and have giant hands and pockets. I love the Tinker Deluxe, and when I carry it with my wallet, I barely notice it in my pocket. I find it comfortable to use, and think the wide variety of tools in neat.
My second knife was a 111mm Adventurer, simply to test the waters of the 111mm range. The large profile of the knife was a perfect fit for my hands, and I began to see why people like 2 layer knives – they’re simple. They do what you ask them to do, the tools are easy to find and draw, and they do sit slim in your pocket. I love my Adventurer… even if the blade size is probably better suited for wilderness applications than urban carry (I haven’t been in any situations where I’ve needed a huge blade in town).
My third knife was the Skipper. After my love for the Adventurer, I thought I’d go for the awesome combo of pliers and inline Phillips screw driver. As it turns out, I absolutely hate it. I have actual regret for purchasing it. Its cumbersome and uncomfortable to carry and hold, and the tools are fiddly to deploy.
Overall you can see my general attitude towards SAKs has been “bigger is better”.
Then, I bought the Sportsman, and it all changed.
I had looked at the 84mm knives before and just assumed they were tiny little ineffective tools. People saying “tinker small is the best knife ever” seemed so ridiculous, because the standard 2 layer tinker already seemed so small and flimsy…
However, I really wanted a knife with a nail file. My nails are super crappy and often peel or chip, and instead of biting them all the time, I’ve found filing them to be really effective at keeping them functional. In addition, I wanted a cheap knife to take travelling with me to Indonesia, on the off chance that customs stopped me and took my knife. I didn’t want to lose my more expensive Tinker Deluxe or Skipper..
This little bad boy was with me all day every day for 4 weeks while on vacation, and it’s my new favourite knife.
Why do I love this knife?
It’s small, but not as small as I thought. Compared to my 91mm, it’s still a reasonably large and solid knife that fits my hand well. In addition, because of its reduced weight its very comfortable to just hold with your fingers (Left Tinker; Right Sportsman) for doing delicate work like cutting strings or thin packaging. The blade is almost the same size as a 91mm too, and the difference is barely noticeable when you’re cutting things with it (unlike the difference from 91mm to 111mm, which is HUGE). In addition, its supremely fidgetable. There’s something satisfying about the size and shape of this knife that make it a pure pleasure to just twirl around and handle.

It’s the perfect size for your pocket. I spent a lot of time with empty pockets. While my Tinker Deluxe slots into my pocket alongside my wallet perfectly, if I’ve got empty pockets, the bulk and shape of the knife becomes very apparent. If I’m rolling around on the ground with my toddler, the Tinker Deluxe can be quite the painful obstruction to roll over. The Sportsman is super light, lays flat, and is barely noticeable. Instead of taking my SAK out, the Sportsman was ALWAYS on my, which mean I used it a lot.

It broke my Phillips-head dependency. So far I’ve been sure to buy knives with Philips screwdrivers on them. I don’t drink wine, and I do like to tinker with things, so it seemed natural. While I was away I purchased some pedestal fans for the place we were staying, and I was surprised at how easily the can-openescrewdriver handled the Philips head screws on the two fans. In addition, I used the corkscrew to unpick a string, AND, I (purchased separately) used the mini driver to tighten one of the screws on my glasses that had worked itself almost completely loose (its funny that I never have to do this, but thankfully when it did happen on holidays, I was prepared). I guess, if I didn’t have access to the mini-driver, I might still choose the backspring Phillips, because the shape of the can opener prevents you from accessing even slightly recessed screws… but, with the mini-driver, it really is a case of “two new tools” (corkscrew and mini), or “more of the same” (another screwdriver. Yippee).

It's got a nail file. (Photo) As I said, nail files are really useful if you have bad like me. It’s also quite an aggressive file, and would probably deal with quite a variety of materials with no trouble. In addition, I’ve always been bothered by the second smaller blade on Swiss Army Knives as it feels like a complete waste of space for me. Maybe if I was roughing it in the wild, using my small blade to carve wood or something, I might appreciate having two blades… but in the city, I have never cared for the two. On my Tinker Deluxe I exclusively use the large blade. People talk about keeping one clean and one dirty, or one working sharp and the other surgical sharp… but these are all people struggling to find a reason for two knives. Look at all the lovers of the Compact, or the devoted of the Church of Alox – all these people easily gave up two blades, and never looked back. Heck - I used to carry just a single bladed folding knife, that didn’t even come with a toothpick or a screwdriver, and I got by just fine.

Its clean and simple to use. Like all 2 layer SAKs, it’s easy to find the tools you need, and its easy to access them.


I love it. Its light, cheap, easy to use, easy to carry, and adequately served my needs while away. It’s a fantastic knife, and if you’ve not tried the 84mm line up I strongly encourage you to do so.
My wife has never taken an interested in my Swiss Army Knives, but after seeing it in action on vacation, she actually asked if she could keep it in her handbag.
That’s okay… it’s given me the justification I needed to order another very similar knife…


If you liked my review, please check out my previous reviews:
91mm Tinker Deluxe
111mm Adventurer
111mm Skipper

It’s the middle of the week let’s get chatting 😊
A bit about me:: I’m an outdoors person but nights in with hot chocolate and a bar of cadburys 🔥 is my type of thing
I love my food especially a roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings accompanied by a Yorkshire pudding and lashings of gravy followed by an apple crumble or milky bar ice cream or even a homemade cheesecake…I’d like to think I dabble at cooking and baking but might need a competition!
I work in artificial intelligence NOT artificial insemination for all you farmers out there…although I wouldn’t mind if I do 😜😂 I do the nitty gritty of the backend code and love it!
I’m a big outdoors person and you’ll either find me under a car or out farming in the sheds or in a tractor
I’m a die hard Arsenal fan ⚽️and a mega F1 fan come on Max and Alonso.
If you like what you read please drop me a message not just a “hi” and please be over 24! Happy to share a picture once we start chatting ☺️

I got 3 newish and 1 fairly experienced player.The 4 homebrew items I was planning on being in summary are.
The ConductoSky Warden - Paladin A two-handed Glaive weapon - Magical
Tier1 +1/+1 Allows a thrown attack at 30ft, and as a bonus action returns the weapon. Or bonus action teleport to glaive(although that might be quite strong). Tier2 +2/+2 Allows Javelin of lighting style aoe on a thrown attack and if the return is used, it counts as a melee attack(so smite enabled). Melee attacks deal an additional D8 Lighting/Thunder damage. Tier3 +3/+3 Not sure yet. I will probably decide a bit later once I figure out what the characters feel is missing or a fun flavour that can be added.
The Mantle Of Embers/Smouldering Mantle - Druid Cloak/Armor Piece Light Armour
Tier 1 - +1AC - Resistant to Fire Flame of Phlegothos style, activate with bonus proficiency time per long rest. Last 1min. Melee attackers take 1d4 damage when next to or attacking. Can "flame on" while wild-shaped. Tier 2 - +2AC - Resistant to Fire and Fire effects are 1 less intense. When using the flame activation, can choose to become 1 size larger. Retribution is d6, and any melee attack taken adds an additional d6 damage.
Tier 3 +3AC - Immune to Fire and Fire Effects are 1 less Retribution is 1d8, the attack is +1d8. Bonus action activate each round to pulse flame to hit in a 10ft radius around for 2d6, but only proficiency times per short rest. (worried about lots of slots to keep track of)
Arcum Ferrum - Ranger Bow -> Dual Dagger hybrid Tier 1 +1/+1 This is a bow that can shift once per turn into its alternate form of dual daggers. Requires two free hands to shift. Deals an additional 1d6 poison on attacks. Bow Ignores Cover. Or was thinking ensnaring strike prof times per short rest instead? Daggers can be thrown and on attack landing or as a bonus action during the throw or its landing can be teleported to. (Perhaps Prof per Long rest cap? As it's similar to the misty step) Tier 2 +2/+2 Damage increase to d8. Dagger Teleport Bonus includes a two-weapon fighting attack. As a bonus action get the Take aim feat with the bow to guarantee Advantage. Tier 3 +3/+3 Not sure. Was thinking both daggers can be thrown, melee attack on each then teleport back to starting position. Bow, overwatch pick a 20ft radius and take a shot at the first enemy there as a reaction. And sentinel 0ft movement speed them.
Cleric Magic Item
Then needed a wateice-styled item. But not sure exactly what would suit the Water genasi cleric well. Clerics seem pretty well-rounded, so not sure what to provide them that won't be busted. (already a Twilight cleric so I don't want them to outshine the other members)
​
I really enjoy the aspect of the Hero being the true power and not the items, and I usually try provide items to accentuate the player rather than become the main focus.
But I do love the idea of a Vestige of Divergence style unique item that becomes more powerful through use, achievements or just levels of the player.
I was looking at lore driven 4 elements-based items that are the key to unlocking a summoning portal. So the players are incentivised 1 by getting the key so the baddies don't, but then also because hopefully, the items are super fun.
I got a few ideas so far, but I was hoping to get some feedback to make sure nothing is too busted or overpowered compared to the others.
For reference, I got a Dragonborn Paladin, Dragonborn Druid, Water Genasi Cleric and a Wood Elf Ranger. They're level 2 currently. Was hoping for tier 1 to be received before lv 5, then tier 2 activates before level 7. Then tier 3 will be planned for 11 or so.

Note: As I said I want to take my time with this story and write it in better quality ("book alike") with bigger chapters and more characters development and world building. Enjoy this chapter!
Prologue Chapter 1 Prev Next
*****
Karina stepped through the portal for the second time that day, emerging in a bustling square in the heart of Aharedun, the capital city of the Kingdom of Aranthia. Unlike the portal to Thalassar, this one was noticeably smaller and less blurry, allowing Karina to clearly see the guards standing on the other side of the shimmering energy field. They wore their imposing grayish armor, their eyes trained on the group of travelers that had just arrived.
Leading the way was Prince Kaelen, who beckoned Karina and their new Viluna companions to follow him into the city. As they made their way through the square, Karina couldn't help but marvel at the sights and sounds around her. The buildings were unlike anything she had ever seen on Earth, with towering spires and ornate decorations adorning every surface. The air was thick with the scent of exotic spices and the sound of alien music that made her toes tap in rhythm.
The crowd that had gathered to greet them was diverse, made up of Thalassarians they already met and several others, she wasn’t sure if they were other species or races.
Her attention was drawn to a particular figure in the crowd, a small creature with dark-green skin and carapaces on its body. It wore a bright yellow toga and had a face that was humanoid but with distinct differences. Its nose was small and almost imperceptible, and it had no hair on its head. Karina couldn't help but stare, fascinated by this strange being.
Before she could take in more of her surroundings, Prince Kaelen stepped forward and made a gesture opening both of his hands and waving his head from one side to other, prompting the crowd to follow suit. Karina wasn't sure if it was a greeting or a bow, but she joined in, copying the movement.
"Welcome, citizens of Aharedun and visitors from afar!" Prince Kaelen announced to the crowd. "We are honored to have these new guests among us, the Humans! We will be taking them to the Royal Palace to show them more of our city tonight and in the coming days. In the meantime, please enjoy the festivities and explore our wonderful city!"
The crowd erupted into applause, and Karina felt a sense of warmth and hospitality from the Thalassarians, she wasn’t sure what she expected once they came here, but this was a welcome sight. As they followed Prince Kaelen down the bustling street, she took in more of the sights and sounds around her, feeling a sense of adventure and excitement building within her. She couldn't wait to see what other wonders this world had in store for her.
They walked stone-cobbled streets towards the big Palace prompted on one of the hills that surrounded the city. The whole time Karina and the humans were escorted by the legion of guards and the hooded figures appeared every once in a while on the corners or on top of the buildings.
“How many people live here?” Karina asked her Viluna which was hovering near her shoulder.
“Around five hundred thousand,” Viluna answered with a squeaky voice.
“Is that a lot in Thalassar or?” Karina asked curiously.
“It’s on a bigger spectrum, but that are larger cities, Aranthia has three bigger cities, but this their capital due to its geopolitical position.” A little speck of flittering light answered. “Which city are you from back on Earth?” The little creature asked her.
“I was born in Moscow,” Karina answered.
“Ahh, we have heard of it in our brief time on Earth,” Viluna answered.
“What?” Karina was shocked. “You have been on Earth? When?” She asked.
“We have visited once the portal was open,” Viluna answered. “We are curious creatures, drawn to new things.”
“How come no one saw you?” Karina asked looking at the Viluna as it flown around her head.
“We can’t take physical or any form on that matter on Earth.” The creature said. “See on our moon we have a physical form, down here on Thalassar we are like this, but once we went through the portal we became nothing but a flicker in the air, barely visible if you knew what you were looking for.” The creature said changing its colors.
“So, why are you here and with us if you can just go to Earth and learn all about us from the shadows?” Karina asked.
“Well, it’s not that simple. Since we can not find any form on Earth, we can’t stay long there, no more than an hour at a time and once we get back it takes us long time to recover.” Viluna explained.
Karina furrowed her brows, trying to understand. “Why is that?”
“We start to lose ourselves if we stay longer. Our minds can’t work right without a form. If we were to stay longer, we would probably cease to exist, as our minds would get lost completely,” Viluna said, changing colors.
“Hmm,” Karina said thinking. “You are weird little creatures. We will talk more tonight, I want to take in all the sights now.” With that said the little creature buzzed above her head.
They had almost reached the big palace during their conversation, only a big flight of rounding stone stairs was between them and an enormous gate at the top of the hill.
“Up we go humans,” Prince Kaelen said and started climbing.
They made their way up the grand staircase, their footsteps echoing against the stone steps. Karina looked around in awe at the view of the city that was unfolding before her. She could see the different districts and neighborhoods of Aharedun, each with its own unique architecture and vibe. She noticed a few towering buildings that stood out from the rest, in her mind those belonged to the nobility or wealthy merchants.
As they reached the top of the stairs, they were met with the sight of the enormous gate, decorated with intricate carvings and symbols that Karina couldn't decipher. The gate was guarded by two large statues of armored soldiers riding unfamiliar beasts, their swords raised and ready to strike. The guards opened the gates, and they stepped into a wide courtyard, filled with lush greenery and fountains.
The palace itself was an impressive structure, with several wings and towers reaching up toward the sky. The walls were made of a white stone that shimmered in the sunlight, and the windows were adorned with colorful stained glass. Karina could see balconies and terraces on the upper floors buzzing with people looking down at their new guests.
Prince Kaelen stood and faced the crown. “Welcome to Royal Palace,” He said opening his arms to show the majestic structure spreading on three sides around them. “It’s been built by my family some four hundred years ago and had been our home ever since.”
As Kaelen talked Karina took her time to take in the marvelous Palace. She was struck by the sheer grandeur of the architecture. Towering pillars rose up from the ground, supporting massive arches and intricate carvings that adorned every inch of the Palace's façade. The gardens were a sight to behold as well, with an array of exotic flowers and plants that seemed to glow in the sunlight. Karina could hear the soft babbling of a nearby fountain, which was surrounded by a group of playful Thalassarian children who were splashing around in the water.
Karina took few steps away from the group and noticed the bustling activity of the Thalassarians as they tended to the upkeep of the Palace and its grounds. Some were meticulously cleaning the pavement, making sure that every stone was spotless. Others were hard at work, trimming and pruning the greenery so that it maintained its shape and beauty. Karina couldn't help but admire the dedication and attention to detail that the Thalassarians put into their work.
Despite their busy schedules, the Thalassarians still found time to take in the sights and sounds of the Palace. Karina observed that they often stopped to exchange greetings and friendly banter with one another, even as they went about their tasks. And yet, whenever opportunity arose, the Thalassarians couldn't help but steal glances in the direction of humans. It was clear that they were curious about the visitors.
“This will be your home for the next year, or until you wish to get reassigned to another part of the program.” Kaelen said finishing speech. “There will be a maid so to say or someone to be of your assistance for each of assigned on top of your Vilunas to make your lives in palace easier. Go ahead enter the east wing of the palace and you will find your rooms at the second and third floor.”
Karina's heart skipped a beat as she stepped into the Palace, her eyes wide open as she tried to take in the grandeur of the interior. The entryway was dominated by a massive chandelier, but she noticed that instead of light bulbs, it was adorned with floating spheres of light that illuminated the entire room in a soft, warm white glow. The walls were painted in a rich shade of yellow, resembling the color of the ocean, while the marble floors were decorated with intricate patterns that seemed the follow the motives from their uniforms.
As she followed the grand hallway, she passed by rooms that were equally lush and rich. She couldn't help but marvel at the fine artwork that adorned the walls, the intricate tapestries that hung from the ceiling, and the luxurious furniture that filled each room. It was like nothing she had ever seen before.
Climbing at the third floor she arrived at her room. It was just as grand as the rest of the Palace, with a large four-poster bed draped in luxurious silks, a writing desk made of rare woods, and a balcony that offered a stunning view of the gardens below.
As Karina was lost in thought, the sound of the door opening startled her. She turned to see a young Thalassarian woman with strikingly unique eyes. They were a deep purple with a faint glow, an unmistakable characteristic of the Thalassarians. Karina guessed her to be in her early twenties, but it was hard to tell with them yet.
The woman's beauty was undeniable, but there was also an awkwardness about her that made her all the more endearing. She stood there nervously, clasping her hands together, as she spoke in a soft voice, "Mistress, my name is Nereia. I have been assigned to assist you during your stay here."
Karina couldn't help but smile at the young woman's formal address, "Please, call me Karina. And it's a pleasure to meet you, Nereia."
Nereia let out a small sigh of relief, "Thank you, Karina. If you'll allow me, I'll show you around and help you with anything you need during your stay here. How do you like your room?" Nereia asked.
“I love it, it’s beautiful,” Karina answered truthfully. “It’s all very overwhelming, but it’s grandiose, to say the least,” Karina said with a friendly smile.
Nereia returned the smile, her faintly glowing eyes sparkling in the light. "I'm glad you like it. Well, the Royal Family is known for its luxurious style.” She said. “Is there anything else you need before I leave you to settle in?"
Karina shook her head, "No, I think I'm good for now. Thank you again, Nereia."
“I will be back later with a gown for the welcome feast tonight, you make yourself comfortable and call me if you need anything,” Nereia left and closed the door behind her.
Moments later Karina stepped out onto the terrace, taking in the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the sound of trickling water from the nearby fountain. She noticed Viluna, her sparkling companion, floating nearby.
"Hey,” Karina said, smiling at her companion. “I was wondering if you could tell me about how magic works. That’s one of the things we humans are the most curious about."
Viluna beamed back at Karina. "It won’t be that simple I am afraid, Karina. Magic is a complex and powerful force that is present in all living things. It's the energy that flows through us and connects us to the world around us."
“Why it won’t be that simple?” Karina asked curiously.
“Well, that’s amongst few things we are not allowed to share with you humans yet,” It said.
“What? Why?” Karina asked. “Aren’t you here to share the knowledge with us?”
“Yes, we are. But it was in the deal we made with the Prince,” Viluna said floating near her head. “The King himself requested we don’t share that knowledge yet, at least not to the full extent. I will answer some of the basic questions and I am sure you will find a lot on your own talking to other Thalassarians, but for now, we are not allowed to explain in detail.”
“Why did he request that?” Karina continued her barrage of questions.
“Because he is afraid that if we give out all of our knowledge you will be able to use it against them if you ever decide to invade again,” Viluna said the explanation made sense to Karina. “But don’t worry if the program goes well I am sure all the knowledge between the two worlds will be shared eventually as the trust grows.”
“Hmm,” Karina frowned. “Makes sense I guess. What can you share now then?” She was persistent.
“Well, All I can tell you is that most of the Thalassarians can cast some of the magic, or at least have to ability to learn it. But to those that can only access simple spells like creating a light sphere, it means nothing. I don’t know if I can find a perfect comparison, but it’s like all of you know how to read and write, but it doesn’t make you special in your own world.”
“Hmm, I don’t know if it’s a great analogy, but I think I get it,” Karina said sitting back in the comfortable chair on the corner of the terrace. “ What else can you share? Where does the magic come from?”
“Hmm, not sure,” Viluna said in a soft voice. “The source of the magic comes to from the moons of Thalassar. There are thirteen of them orbiting the planet and each one of them provides a person with a specific power. Every being born on Thalassar has a connection with at least one and that’s how they are able to make basic spells like light spheres, a small burst of fire, heal minor wounds, and so on.” Viluna spoke and danced around Karina’s head as she listened carefully.
“More skilled mages, healers, enchanters, and so on, have a connection to several moons and use their powers to create and cast unique spells. Even to this day people are able to think of new ways to cast and create new spells. It’s way more complex than that, but it’s all I am able to share for now, that information you can gather by asking almost anyone on the street and it can’t hurt the kingdom.”
“Woah, that’s interesting,” Karina said her eyes full of wonder. “Can someone have a connection to all of the moons?” Karina asked curiously.
“No, that’s unheard of,” Viluna answered landing on her knee. “Powerful magic users most have around five to six connections, the highest anyone ever had was ten, but it is more a myth than a confirmed fact, we don’t have any evidence that Xandros the Second had that ability.”
“Hmm,” Karina said taking in everything her little companion shared with her. “I am sorry, I just realized I never asked you for your name.”
“We Viluna’s don’t have names, but you are free to name me and call me whatever you like,”
“Ok, how about Lumina,” Karina asked right away. “Don’t know why but that name suits you.”
“I like it,” Lumina said her form shifting slightly.
Karina continued to ask a question to Lumina as she overlooked the busy gardens of the Royal Palace. An hour had passed in a blink and a knock from a door cut their conversation.
“Excuse me, Mistress Karina,” a soft voice said with a polite tone. “It’s Nereia, I brought your gown.”
Karina opened the door and welcomed the girl with a warm smile. “Come on in,” She said opening the door wide.
“I am afraid I can’t, they need us down to get everything ready for the feast tonight.” She said. “Here is your gown, get ready and I will come to get you in less than an hour and lead you towards the banquet hall.” Nereia handed her the gown and left.
Karina looked at the gown in awe as she held it in her hands, without hesitation she put the gown on. It was a beautiful, flowing creation made of the finest silk, with intricate embroidery and beading in shades of turquoise and silver. The sleeves were sheer, with delicate lace trimming, and the bodice hugged her curves before cascading down into a billowing skirt that trailed behind her as she walked.
It wasn’t her style at all, she was more of street clothes kinda a girl, but looking at herself in the mirror, she was blown away. She made a few turns looking at the dress from all angles. This kind of dress would cost her fortune back on earth. She found a few silver clips on the desk and styled her hair as best she could to go along with the dress.
A few moments later, Nereia arrived at the door, dressed in a lovely gown of her own, visibly less luxurious than the one Karina got. "You look stunning, Mistress Karina," she said with a smile. "Are you ready to go?"
Karina nodded, feeling a bit nervous but excited as well. She followed Nereia down the hallway, her long gown trailing behind her as they made their way toward the banquet hall. As they walked, Karina couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the palace once again. Every inch of it was adorned with intricate carvings, sparkling jewels, and delicate tapestries.
Finally, they arrived at the banquet hall. The hall was massive, with soaring ceilings, glittering chandeliers, and walls adorned with shimmering gold decorations. The tables were covered in rich, embroidered cloths, and gleaming silverware sparkled in the light of the glowing spheres floating above the table.
The guests were already arriving, each one more elegantly dressed than the last. They were all talking and laughing, their voices echoing off the grand walls of the hall. Karina felt a bit intimidated, but Nereia squeezed her arm reassuringly.
"Don't worry, Mistress Karina," she whispered. "I know feasts like these can look intimidating, but you humans are the stars of the show."
With that, she led Karina toward their assigned table where most of the humans would sit this evening. Nereia took a seat next to her and on the other side, she recognized a girl from their program wearing a similar gown.
“Hey,” Karina said softly. “How are taking all of this?”
“Hey Karina, it’s overwhelming, but everything is beautiful so far, can’t complain,” Clarissa answered. “How about you?”
“Same,” Karina answered and they continued with small talk before the soft music that was playing stopped and people started standing up. Nereia slowly tugged at her arm pointing for the stand as well. Seconds later prince Kaelen walked into the hall with a beautiful woman under his arm. She was stunningly beautiful, with long golden hair that cascaded down her back in loose waves. Her dress was a shimmering ivory color, with delicate beading that sparkled in the candlelight.
Karina couldn't help but notice the intricate braids woven into the woman's hair, forming an elegant and intricate pattern that must have taken hours to create. Her makeup was subtle, but enhanced her natural beauty, with a soft pink lip and just a touch of blush on her cheeks.
“That’s Zaya, Kaelen’s bride-to-be,” Nereia said.
“She is beautiful,” Karina answered truthfully.
“Yes, she is amongst the most beautiful women in the kingdom. Kaelen chose her instead of marrying someone from his family provided in order to establish better relations with other kingdoms. It was a big deal at the time, but that’s prince Kaelen, he always does what he wants.” Nereia explained and Karina just nodded looking at the stunning couple.
“What’s the prince like?” Karina asked.
“He always stood out from the Royal Family. He is a bit eccentric, he likes to party, and travel, and isn’t really that much interested in Family matters.” Nereia said as the couple took a seat at the main table. “Bringing you guys here with this Citizens Exchange program is his way of proving his worth to the kingdom and his family.”
“How so?” Karina asked curiously.
“He doesn’t believe in his family policy of war and old-style politics. He believes both planets could benefit from each other if we set our differences aside and work together. The King was not for this program at all, but the prince managed to convince him otherwise with the help of his Mother.” Karina nodded in understanding and minutes later waiters started serving dinner.
Karina was serving a weird purple-looking fruit or vegetable, she wasn’t sure. “What’s this?” She asked Nereia.
“That’s Nemoryn fruit, it’s one of the best delicates in the Thalassar and only grown on one small island,” Nereia said. “It’s usually served only on big banquets and before the main course as this fruit is known to open the appetite and help dissolve the rest of the food easier.”
“And how do you eat it?” Karina asked poking at the fruit with her knife.
Neremia chuckled softly. “You cut off top and the bottom and then peel the leathery exterior.”
Karina did as told and the inside revealed a pink, jelly-like inside that was filled with small, edible seeds.
“You can eat it all, it’s ok to eat it with the spoon,” Nereia said.
Karina nodded and took her spoon taking a bite out of the fruit. It was soft and crunchy at the same time with a mild, sweet, and subtly bitter flavor. It began to melt into a liquid inside her mouth and the taste reminded of lime and coconut mixed together.
“Woah, this is delicious,” Karina said and took another bite. “Your food is truly amazing.”
Nereia smiled. “Yes it is, but you also are getting the best of the best, keep that in mind.” She said with a smile and Karina nodded her mouth full of delicious fruit.
The rest of the banquet went as expected, they ate amazing food, Karina made small talk with the rest of the humans, and spent most of the night chatting with Nereia, who proved to be rather curious about humans once she loosened up. Prince Kaelen provided them with a whole night of entertainment, dancers, actors, and entertainers took turns at the podium as the night went away.
Deep into the night when the feast was nearing its end, a loud explosion was heard from the outside and bright light emanated deep from the city which could be seen through the open terrace on one side of the banquet hall. Karina ran towards the terrace but the guards were already at the door prohibiting anyone to exit. Karina managed to peer through the cracks in their massive armor and saw a big flame at the part of the city where they walked earlier in the day.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure it’s nothing.” Prince Kaelen said with a stern voice. “Please leave for your rooms we have our people already investigating the source of the explosion. You will be informed of what happened as soon as we know.” He said and left the banquet hall in the hurry.
Nereia escorted Karina to her room and helped her unzip the dress before she left. Karina sank into a soft bed and her mind started racing with everything that happened today, but before the thought could consume her, tiredness took over and she sank into a deep sleep.
She was awakened by the commotion outside her terrace early in the morning. She ran and looked outside and saw Prince Kaelen talking with a man in a uniform she hasn’t seen so far, he had dozens of soldiers at his side. She quickly got dressed into the clothes she came in and went downstairs to look for Nereia.
“What’s going on?” Karina asked as she found the young girl sitting at the bench in the garden.
“Mistress Karina, you are awake,” Nereia said with a smile.
Karina could sense something was off, so she asked again. “What’s going on?”
“I am afraid nothing good,” Nereia said with a worried look on her face. “One of the ships transporting humans was attacked and destroyed last night at the open see.” She said bowing her head down.
“Which one?” Karina asked her heart racing.
“The one transporting your people to military camps,” Nereia said.
Karina’s heart sank in her chest with the realization that it was Liam’s ship. She almost fainted but Nereia took her by arm and helped her sit on the bench. First the explosion last night, then the ship, something was off and it made Karina have almost a full-blown panic attack, but her worry was focused on Liam now, she needed to find out what happened to him and if he was ok.
*****
Liking the story so far? Consider supporting me on PATREON. There will be bonus chapters on there soon.

Then last but not least, here are all my various rankings of different facets of the show. Starting off with my episode rankings, and then team and canon ship rankings (in general and season-by-season), and lastly my final character rankings and tier lists (both in general and season-by-season). Though if you haven’t seen my part 1 post yet, I advise you go see it (you can find it via this link)

Episodes

Deplorable: Z (0.00 - 0.99 Points)
#145: “Sundae Muddy Sundae” (AS) - 0.15
#144: “You Regatta Be Kidding Me” (AS) - 0.20
#143: "The Aftermath: II: Forgive and Forgwen" (TDA) - 0.40
Loathsome: F- (1.00 - 1.99 Points)
#142: “Three Zones and a Baby” (PI) - 1.15
#141: “Lies, Cries and One Big Prize” (PI) - 1.40
#140: “Can’t Help Falling in Louvre” (WT) - 1.70
Painful: F (2.00 - 2.99 Points)
#139: “Sky Fall” (PI) - 2.20
#138: “The Final Wreckening” (AS) - 2.35
#137: “Zeek and Ye Shall Find” (AS) - 2.70
Infuriating: F+ (3.00 - 3.99 Points)
#136: "The Chefshank Redemption" (TDA) - 3.30
#135: "2008: A Space Owen"(TDA) - 3.40
Lousy (Red): D- (4.00 - 4.99 Points)
#134: “Mo Monkey Mo Problems” (PI) - 4.30
#133: “Saving Private Leechball” (AS) - 4.45
#132: “Search and Do Not Destroy” (TDI) - 4.80
Cringe: D (5.00 - 5.99 Points)
#131: “Phobia Factor” (TDI) - 5.05
#130: “A Blast from the Past” (PI) - 5.20
#129: "The Princess Pride" (TDA) - 5.80
Weak: D+ (6.00 - 6.99 Points)
#128: "3:10 to Crazytown" (TDA) - 6.10
#127: "Top Dog" (TDA) - 6.50
#126: “The Obstakill Course” (AS) - 6.55
#125: “Evil Dread” (AS) - 6.70
Lackluster: C- (7.00 - 7.99 Points)
#124: Haute Camp-ture (TDI) - 7.05
#123: “The Very Last Episode, Really!” (TDI) - 7.25
#122: "The Aftermath IV: Who Wants to Pick a Millionaire?” (TDA) - 7.40
#121: “Anything Yukon Do, I Can Do Better” (WT) - 7.70
#120: “Brazilian Pain Forest” (RR) - 7.85
Borderline: C (8.00 - 8.99 Points)
#119: “This is the Pits!” (PI) - 8.10
#118: "Rock 'n Rule" (TDA) - 8.15
#117: “Hawaiian Punch” (WT) - 8.30
#116: "The Aftermath I: Trent’s Descent" (TDA) - 8.50
#115: “Darjeel with It” (RR) - 8.65
#114: "Beach Blanket Bogus" (TDA) - 8.80
#113: “Walk Like an Egyptian Part 2” (WT) - 8.95
Neutral: C (9.00 Points)
Average: C (9.01 - 10.00 Points)
#112: “African Lying Society-Safari” (WT) - 9.05
#111: “Heroes vs. Villains” (AS) - 9.10
#110: “No Pain, No Game” (TDI) - 9.40
#109: “A Million Ways to Lose a Million Dollars” (RR) - 9.60
#108: “The Bold and the Booty-ful” (AS) - 9.85
#107: “That’s Off the Chain” (TDI) - 9.95
Decent: C+ (10.01 - 11.00 Points)
#106: “Jamaica Me Sweat” (WT) - 10.20
#105: “A Mine is a Terrible Thing to Waste” (ROTI) - 10.25
#104: “Slap Slap Revolution” (WT) - 10.40
#103: “Moon Madness” (AS) - 10.45
#102: “So, Uh, This is my Team” (PI) - 10.60
#101: “I Love You, I Love You Knots” (PI) - 10.75
#100: “The Sucky Outdoors” (TDI) - 10.80
#99: "Masters of Disasters" (TDA) - 10.90
#98: "No One Eggspects the Spanish Opposition" (AS) - 10.95
Fine: B- (11.01 - 12.00 Points)
#97: “Suckers Punched” (AS) - 11.05
#96: "Dial M for Merger" (TDA) - 11.10
#95: “Hawaiian Honeyruin” (RR) - 11.35
#94: “Food Fright” (AS) - 11.40
#93: “Down and Outback” (RR) - 11.55
#92: “Greece’s Pieces” (WT) - 11.60
#91: “Paintball Deer Hunter” (TDI) - 11.80
Dope: B (12.01 - 13.00 Points)
#90: "One Million Bucks B.C." (TDA) - 12.02
#89: “Picnic at Hanging Dork” (WT) - 12.10
#88: “I Love You Grease Pig” (PI) - 12.15
#87: “None Down, Eighteen to Go Part 1” (RR) - 12.20
#86: “Super Happy Crazy Fun Time in Japan” (WT) - 12.25
#85: “Finders Creepers” (ROTI) - 12.30
#84: “Niagara Brawls” (WT) - 12.35
#83: “If You Can’t Take the Heat” (TDI) - 12.40
#82: “Hide and Be Sneaky” (TDI) - 12.45
#81: “None Down, Eighteen to Go Part 2” (RR) - 12.50
#80: “The Big Sleep” (TDI) - 12.60
#79: “How Deep is Your Love” (RR) - 12.65
#78: “Pahk’d with Talent” (PI) - 12.70
#77: “Awww, Drumheller” (WT) - 12.80
#76: “X-treme Torture” (TDI) - 12.90
#75: “Not So Happy Campers Part 2” (TDI) - 12.95
#74: “The Am-AH-zon Race” (WT) - 13.00
Solid: B+ (13.01 - 14.00 Points)
#73: "Million Dollar Babies" (TDA) - 13.05
#72: “Total Drama Drama Drama Drama Island” (TDI) - 13.15
#71: “Wawanakwa Gone Wild” (TDI) - 13.20
#70: “Mediterranean Homesick Blues” (RR) - 13.25
#69: “Chinese Fakeout” (WT) - 13.30
#68: “Walk Like an Egyptian, Part 1” (WT) - 13.35
#67: “The Ex-Files” (WT) - 13.40
#66: “French is an Eiffel Language” (RR) - 13.45
#65: "Full Metal Drama" (TDA) - 13.50
#64: “Hello and Dubai” (RR) - 13.55
#63: “Bjorken Telephone” (RR) - 13.60
#62: “Rapa Phooey” (WT) - 13.65
#61: “Hurl and Go Seek” (PI) - 13.70
#60: “Aftermath I: Bridgette Over Troubled Water” (WT) - 13.71
#59: “Truth or Laser Shark” (ROTI) - 13.75
#58: “Not Quite Famous” (TDI) - 13.80
#57: “Grand Chef Auto” (ROTI) - 13.85
#56: “Backstabbers Ahoy!” (ROTI) - 13.88
#55: "The Aftermath III: O-wen or Loose" (TDA) - 13.90
#54: “Bigger! Badder! Brutal-er!” (ROTI) - 13.92
#53: “Not So Happy Campers Part 1” (TDI) - 13.95
#52: "Ocean's Eight - Or Nine" (TDA) - 14.00
Awesome: A- (14.01 - 15.00 Points)
#51: “Aftermath II: Revenge of the Telethon” (WT) - 14.10
#50: “Twinning isn’t Everything” (PI) - 14.15
#49: “Camp Castaways” (TDI) - 14.20
#48: "Alien Resurr-eggtion" (TDA) - 14.40
#47: “Broadway, Baby!” (WT) - 14.45
#46: "Celebrity Manhunt's TDA Reunion Show" (TDA) - 14.55
#45: “Ice Ice Baby” (ROTI) - 14.60
#44: “Riot on Set” (TDA) - 14.63
#43: “I See London” (WT) - 14.70
#42: “Lord of the Ring Toss” (RR) - 14.75
#41: “Brunch of Disgustingness” (TDI) - 14.80
#40: “Shawshank Ridonction” (RR) - 14.85
#39: "Runaway Model" (ROTI) - 14.90
Fantastic: A (15.01 - 16.00 Points)
#38: “Dude Buggies” (RR) - 15.05
#37: "Mutiny on the Soundstage" (TDA) - 15.20
#36: “Aftermath IV: Hawaiian Style” (WT) - 15.30
#35: “Who Can You Trust” (TDI) - 15.40
#34: “A Ticket, a Casket, I’m Gonna Blow a Gasket” (RR) - 15.45
#33: "Crouching Courtney, Hidden Owen" (TDA) - 15.60
#32: “My Way or Zimbabwe” (RR) - 15.65
#31: “Scarlett Fever” (PI) - 15.70
#30: “Newf Kids on the Rock (WT) - 15.75
#29: “Monster Cash” (TDA) - 15.80
#28: “Dodgebrawl” (TDI) - 15.85
#27: “Are We There Yeti?” (TDI) - 15.87
#26: “Got Venom” (RR) - 15.95
Extraordinary: A+ (16.01 - 17.00 Points)
#25: “Last Tango in Buenos Aires” (RR) - 16.05
#24: “Up the Creek” (TDI) - 16.10
#23: "The Sand Witch Project” (TDA) - 16.15
#22: “Ca Noodling” (RR) - 16.25
#21: “Eat, Puke, and Be Wary” (ROTI) - 16.40
#20: “Sweden Sour” (WT) - 16.45
#19: “Basic Straining” (TDI) - 16.50
#18: “One Flu Over the Cuckoos” (TDA) - 16.55
#17: “Maori or Less” (RR) - 16.60
#16: “El Bunny Supremo” (RR) - 16.65
#15: “I Triple Dog Dare You” (TDI) - 16.70
#14: “Little Bull on the Prairie” (RR) - 16.75
#13: “The Enchanted Franken-Forest” (ROTI) - 16.80
#12: “Trial by Tri-Armed Triathlon” (TDI) - 16.85
#11: “Aftermath III: Aftermath Aftermayhem” (WT) - 16.90
Legendary: S (17.01 - 18.00)
#10: “Get a Clue" (TDA) - 17.05
#9: “The Treasure Island of Dr. McLean” (ROTI) - 16.10
#8: "Super Hero-Id" (TDA) - 17.25
#7: “I Love Ridonc and Roll” (RR) - 17.30
#6: “New Beijinging” (RR) - 17.35
#5: “Planes, Trains, and Hot Air Mobiles” (WT) - 17.45
#4: “Hook, Line, and Screamer” (TDI) - 17.50
#3: “Bahamarama (RR) - 17.65
#2: “Brain vs. Brawn: The Ultimate Showdown” (ROTI) - 17.70
#1: “Up, Up, and Away in my Pitiful Balloon” (ROTI) - 17.80

Teams

#13: Pimâpotew Kinosewak (PI)
#12: Killer Grips (TDA)
#11: Wâneyihtam Muskwak (PI)
#10: Heroic Hamsters (AS)
#9: Team Victory (WT)
#8: Villainous Vultures (AS)
#7: Team Amazon (WT)
#6: Killer Bass (TDI)
#5: Screaming Gophers (TDI)
#4: Toxic Rats (ROTI)
#3: Screaming Gaffers (TDA)
#2: Mutant Maggots (ROTI)
#1: Team Chris (WT)

Canon ships (season-by-season)

Worst (Z)
#33: Gwent (TDA)
#32: MacBrody (RR)
Terrible (F)
#31: Skave (PI)
#30: Ozzy (WT)
#29: Zoke (AS)
#28: Derrie (RR)
#27: Gwuncan (AS)
Bad (D)
#26: Coderra (WT)
#25: Gwent (TDI)
#24: Gwuncan (WT)
Neutral (C)
#23: Lyler (TDI)
#22: Scottney (AS)
#21: Lesharold (TDI)
Good (B)
#20: Duncney (TDA)
#19: Gidgette (TDA)
#18: Crimsennui (RR)
#17: Lesharold (TDA)
#16: Lesharold (WT)
#15: Gidgette (WT)
#14: Anne Marito (ROTI)
#13: Lyler (WT)
Excellent (A)
#12: Ozzy (TDI)
#11: Ryphanie (RR)
#10: Zoke (ROTI)
#9: Gidgette (TDI)
#8: Duncney (WT)
#7: Samkota (ROTI)
#6: Aleheather (AS)
Best (S)
#5: Ozzy (TDA)
#4: Nemma (RR)
#3: Duncney (TDI)
#2: Aleheather (WT)
#1: Shawsmine (PI)

Canon ships (general)

NOTP (Z)
#20: Macbrody
Terrible (F)
#19: Skave
#18: Derrie
Bad (D)
#17: Gwent
#16: Coderra
#15: Gwuncan
Neutral (C)
#14: Zoke
#13: Scottney
Good (B)
#12: Crimsennui
#11: Lesharold
#10: Anne Marito
#9: Lyler
Excellent (A)
#8: Ryphanie
#7: Ozzy
#6: Gidgette
#5: Samkota
#4: Duncney
OTP (S)
#3: Nemma
#2: Aleheather
#1: Shawsmine
Now for what y’all have been waiting for

Character rankings (season-by-season)

Deplorable: Z (0.00 - 0.99 Points)
#147: Chris (PI) - 0.01
#146: Amy (PI) - 0.24
#145: Chris (WT) - 0.35
#144: Ezekiel (WT) - 0.67
#143: MacArthur (RR) - 0.96
Loathsome: F- (1.00 - 1.99 Points)
#142: Chris (TDI) - 1.21
#141: Chef (PI) - 1.30
#140: Mal (AS) - 1.81
#139: Leonard (PI) - 1.95
Painful: F (2.00 - 2.99 Points)
#138: Kelly (RR) - 2.25
#137: Chef (WT) - 2.54
#136: Chris (AS) - 2.88
#135: Mike (AS) - 2.91
Infuriating: F+ (3.00 - 3.99 Points)
#134: Taylor (RR) - 3.31
#133: Sadie (TDI) - 3.55
#132: Katie (TDI) - 3.60
#131: Sugar (PI) - 3.72
Lousy (Red): D- (4.00 - 4.99 Points)
#130: Tammy (RR) - 4.30
#129: Sierra (AS) - 4.82
#128: Justin (TDA) - 4.94
Cringe: D (5.00 - 5.99 Points)
#127: Staci (ROTI) -
#126: Dave (PI) - 5.39
#125: Leonard (RR) - 5.57
#124: Beth (TDA) - 5.61
#123: Jo (AS) - 5.83 (6.24)
Weak: D+ (6.00 - 6.99 Points)
#122: Sierra (WT) - 6.22
#121: Carrie (RR) - 6.32
#120: Jay (RR) - 6.50
#119: Eva (TDI) - 6.59
#118: Trent (TDA) - 6.82
#117: Devin (RR) - 6.91
#116: Mickey (RR) - 6.92
Lackluster: C- (7.00 - 7.99 Points)
#115: Izzy (WT) - 7.00
#114: Leshawna (WT) - 7.19
#113: Chris (ROTI) - 7.50
#112: Sam (AS) - 7.77
#111: Heather (TDI) - 7.86
Borderline: C (8.00 - 8.99 Points)
#110: Beardo (PI) - 8.25
#109: Mary (RR) - 8.33
#108: Duncan (AS) - 8.40
#107: Chef (TDA) - 8.82
#106: Miles (RR) - 8.95
Neutral: C (9.00 Points)
Average: C (9.01 - 10.00 Points)
#105: Courtney (AS) - 9.09
#104: Chris (TDA) - 9.21
#103: Ellody (RR) - 9.25
#102: Justin (TDI) - 9.28
#101: Laurie (RR) - 9.47
#100: Cameron (AS) - 9.51
#99: Rodney (PI) - 9.75
Decent: C+ (10.01 - 11.00 Points)
#98: Chef (AS) - 10.08
#97: Tom (RR) - 10.34
#96: Beth (TDI) - 10.43
#95: Jen (RR) - 10.52
#94: DJ (WT) - 10.65
#93: Owen (TDA) - 10.69
#92: Ella (PI) - 10.72
#91: Sanders (RR) - 10.75
Fine: B- (11.01 - 12.00 Points)
#90: Bridgette (TDA) - 11.23
#89: Geoff (TDA) - 11.45
#88: Tyler (TDI) - 11.49
#87: Sky (PI) - 11.57
#86: Trent (TDI) - 11.65
#85: Topher (PI) - 11.72
#84: Scott (AS) - 11.73
#82: Zoey (AS) - 11.82
#83: DJ (TDI) - 11.86 (11.75)
Dope: B (12.01 - 13.00 Points)
#81: Ezekiel (TDI) - 12.01
#80: Scarlett (PI) - 12.23
#79: Noah (TDI) - 12.31
#78: Bridgette (TDI) - 12.49
#77: Pete (RR) - 12.59
#76: Gerry (RR) - 12.66
#75: Chef (TDI) - 12.72
#74: Mike (ROTI) - 12.76
#73: Gwen (WT) - 12.87
#72: Anne Maria (ROTI) - 12.93
#71: Blaineley (WT) - 12.96
Solid: B+ (13.01 - 14.00 Points)
#70: Josee (RR) - 13.01
#69: Crimson (RR) - 13.32
#68: Jacques (RR) - 13.37
#67: Dawn (ROTI) - 13.39
#66: Leshawna (TDA) - 13.40
#65: Gwen (AS) - 13.50
#64: Tyler (WT) - 13.63
#63: Harold (WT) - 13.67
#62: Max (PI) - 13.78
#61: Owen (TDI) - 13.89
#60: Stephanie (RR) - 13.90
#59: Jo (ROTI) - 13.97
#58: B (ROTI) - 13.98
Awesome: A- (14.01 - 15.00 Points)
#57: Lorenzo (RR) - 14.03
#56: Izzy (TDI) - 14.07
#55: Chet (RR) - 14.13
#54: Bridgette (WT) - 14.16
#53: DJ (TDA) - 14.17
#52: Duncan (TDA) - 14.27
#51: Sammy (PI) - 14.35
#50: Cody (WT) - 14.45
#49: Ennui (RR) - 14.47
#48: Gwen (TDA) - 14.57
#47: Lightning (ROTI) - 14.61
#46: Don (RR) - 14.68
#45: Geoff (TDI) - 14.80
#44: Sam (ROTI) - 14.87
#43: Lindsay (AS) - 14.95
Fantastic: A (15.01 - 16.00 Points)
#42: Owen (WT) - 15.09
#41: Lightning (AS) - 15.10
#40: Courtney (TDA) - 15.29
#39: Heather (AS) - 15.31
#38: Leshawna (TDI) - 15.35
#37: Geoff (WT) - 15.50
#36: Alejandro (AS) - 15.54
#35: Heather (TDA) - 15.59
#34: Rock (RR) - 15.64
#33: Cody (TDI) - 15.78
#32: Noah (RR) - 15.85
#31: Courtney (WT) - 15.90
#30: Jasmine (PI) - 15.94
Extraordinary: A+ (16.01 - 17.00 Points)
#29: Noah (WT) - 16.11
#28: Lindsay (TDI) - 16.29
#27: Chef (ROTI) - 16.34
#26: Ryan (RR) - 16.37
#25: Courtney (TDI) - 16.42
#24: Lindsay (WT) - 16.50
#23: Scott (ROTI) - 16.51
#22: Dakota (ROTI) - 16.62 (16.95)
#21: Lindsay (TDA) - 16.70
#20: Brody (RR) - 16.80
#19: Junior (RR) - 16.92
#18: Brick (ROTI) - 16.95 (16.77 - 16.97)
#17: Harold (TDI) - 16.98
#16: Owen (RR) - 16.99 (16.97 - 17.00)
Legendary: S (17.01 - 18.00)
#15: Geoff (RR) - 17.10
#14: Dwayne (RR) - 17.28
#13: Duncan (WT) - 17.31
#12: Emma (RR) - 17.36 (17.51)
#11: Izzy (TDA) - 17.42
#10: Alejandro (WT) - 17.45 (17.55)
#9: Heather (WT) - 17.47 (17.57)
#8: Duncan (TDI) - 17.62 (17.61)
#7: Spud (RR) - 17.63
#6: Cameron (ROTI) - 17.67
#5: Gwen (TDI) - 17.74
#4: Zoey (ROTI) - 17.85
#3: Harold (TDA) - 17.93
#2: Kitty (RR) - 17.95
#1: Shawn (PI) - 17.96
Cameos
#20: Chris (RR) - 0.10
#19: Ezekiel (AS 2.0) - 1.45
#18: Anne Maria (RR) - 7.20
#17: Blaineley (RR) - 7.21
#16: Ezekiel (AS 1.0) - 7.60
#15: Jose (AS) - 8.20
#14: Owen (AS) - 8.70
#13: Ezekiel (ROTI 2.0) - 9.20
#12: DJ (ROTI) - 9.85
#11: Ezekiel (ROTI 3.0) - 10.10
#10: Ezekiel (ROTI 1.0) - 10.40
#9: Gwen (ROTI) - 10.25
#8: Bridgette (ROTI) - 10.60
#7: Izzy (AS) - 11.40
#6: Owen (ROTI) - 14.85
#5: Everyone (ROTI) - 15.20
#4: Lindsay (ROTI) - 15.80
#3: Izzy (ROTI) - 16.30
#2: Heather (ROTI) - 17.20
#1: Duncan (ROTI) - 17.25

Character rankings (general)

Deplorable: Z (0.00 - 0.99 Points)
#88: Chris - 0.21
#87: Amy - 0.24
#86: MacArthur - 0.96
Loathsome: F- (1.00 - 1.99 Points)
#85: Mal - 1.81
#84: Ezekiel - 1.92
Painful: F (2.00 - 2.99 Points)
#83: Kelly - 2.25
#82: Leonard - 2.93
Infuriating: F+ (3.00 - 3.99 Points)
#81: Sadie - 3.17
#80: Katie - 3.19
#79: Taylor - 3.31
#78: Sugar - 3.72
Lousy (Red): D- (4.00 - 4.99 Points)
#77: Tammy - 4.30
#76: Justin - 4.96
Cringe: D (5.00 - 5.99 Points)
#75: Staci - 5.15
#74: Dave - 5.39
#73: Sierra - 5.73
#72: Beth - 5.88
Weak: D+ (6.00 - 6.99 Points)
#71: Carrie - 6.32
#70: Mike - 6.47
#69: Jay - 6.50
#68: Devin - 6.91
#67: Mickey - 6.92
Lackluster: C- (7.00 - 7.99 Points)
#66: Beardo - 7.20
#65: Chef - 7.52
#64: Eva - 7.70
Borderline: C (8.00 - 8.99 Points)
#63: Mary - 8.33
#62: Trent - 8.67
#61: Miles - 8.95
Neutral: C (9.00 Points)
Average: C (9.01 - 10.00 Points)
#60: Ellody - 9.25
#59: Laurie - 9.47
#58: Rodney - 9.75
Decent: C+ (10.01 - 11.00 Points)
#57: Tom - 10.34
#56: Jen - 10.52
#55: Ella - 10.72
#54: Sanders - 10.75
Fine: B- (11.01 - 12.00 Points)
#53: Jo - 11.06
#52: Sky - 11.57
#51: Topher - 11.72
Dope: B (12.01 - 13.00 Points)
#50: Scarlett - 12.23
#49: Sam - 12.24
#48: DJ - 12.52
#47: Pete - 12.59
#46: Gerry - 12.66
#45: Bridgette - 12.92
#44: Anne Maria - 12.93
#43: Blaineley - 12.96
Solid: B+ (13.01 - 14.00 Points)
#42: Josee - 13.01
#41: Crimson - 13.32
#40: Leshawna - 13.20
#39: Jacques - 13.37
#38: Dawn - 13.39
#37: Tyler - 13.27
#36: Max - 13.78
#35: Stephanie - 13.90
#34: B - 13.98
Awesome: A- (14.01 - 15.00 Points)
#33: Lorenzo - 14.03
#32: Chet - 14.13
#31: Sammy - 14.35
#30: Courtney - 14.38
#29: Scott - 14.39
#28: Ennui - 14.47
#27: Don - 14.68
#26: Lightning - 14.72
#25: Cody - 14.82
Fantastic: A (15.01 - 16.00 Points)
#24: Owen - 15.11
#23: Izzy - 15.31
#22: Noah - 15.47
#21: Rock - 15.64
#20: Heather - 15.74
#19: Jasmine - 15.94
Extraordinary: A+ (16.01 - 17.00 Points)
#18: Ryan - 16.37
#17: Geoff - 16.39
#16: Cameron - 16.61
#15: Dakota - 16.62
#14: Lindsay - 16.70
#13: Brody - 16.80
#12: Junior - 16.92
#11: Brick - 16.95
Legendary: S (17.01 - 18.00)
#10: Gwen - 17.11
#9: Dwayne - 17.28
#8: Duncan - 17.32
#7: Emma - 17.36
#6: Alejandro - 17.48
#5: Spud - 17.63
#4: Zoey - 17.69
#3: Harold - 17.94
#2: Kitty - 17.95
#1: Shawn - 17.96
Other characters aside from the main 87 + Mal
#17: Fang - 2.83
#16: Jose - 3.40
#15: DJ’s Mom - 6.60
#14: Intern in Glamouriffic’s template - 7.30
#13: Brittany - 8.05
#12: Leshaniqua - 8.10
#11: Scruffy - 9.45
#10: Mr. Coconut - 9.80
#9: Josh - 10.20
#8: Bruno - 10.25
#7: Chester - 10.64
#6: Svetlana - 10.90
#5: Sasquatchanakwa - 11.10
#4: Molotov - 11.11
#3: Manitoba - 11.62
#2: Vito - 12.00
#1: Loki - 14.59
And then as a bonus, here’s a link to my entire Google Sheets I used to assemble each ranking chart. I’m too lazy to explain every facet of how I calculated things, or how it works. But if any of you are actually curious and comment more specifically, I can answer
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aEr5JBcy4EVq_7rZEhVzhP5nimYT6O4vSkF-u313EaU/edit?usp=sharing

Outro + what I might do in the future👀

With that all being said, this completely concludes my super long rewatch series. Once again, thank you to all who actually followed this series at any point! With that being said, I figured I should briefly talk about what I have planned in the future. Well for starters, I still have to continue my poll series. And now that I’ve completed this series, stating my opinions should be even easier now. Also, the new seasons are coming up soon. So I may or may not add onto this series once the episodes air, whether it be doing full-on episode by episode reviews, or just going by the slightly more efficient commentary style I did where I go through a few episodes per post. On top of this, I’ve also recently watched a couple of fanseasons on YT, that being Disventure Camp and Adventure Camp. And I think I have something planned for that
But for now, this is Geo, for the last time in this series, signing off✌️

I’ve been looking for something outdoors that my kids and I can do together while exploring the woods behind our house. Slingshots seemed like a fun idea so after learning the safety aspects of it, I’d like to get us all one. My budget is probably around $40 for me and $20 each for the kids (7&6 years old) if it’s realistic. We live in Germany but I didn’t see anything about them being illegal with a quick google search. I’d prefer online links if possible. They don’t have to be EU specific as we have an APO address also. Thanks!!

Have:
(Enclaves all have aligned, stock & reflex)
BLS25 Enclave Auto
B2515r Enclave Flamer
B2525 Alien Blaster
B2525 Gamma Gun
B2525 10mm Pistol
B2525 Auto Pipe Rifle
BE25 Hunting Rifle
B2515r Cryolator
BE15r Pump Shotgun
B50c25 Crossbow
B40PA50BS Chainsaw
BE15r Dragon (419 Range Legacy)
Exe2550BS Enclave Flamer
QE25 Single Action Revolver
TS50c25 Enclave Sniper
V2515r Enclave Flamer
OE AP FDC Wood LA
Van AP FDC Marine Chest
Van +I FDC Wood Chest

It was a cold winter's night in Freeport. My husband and I were seated watching TV, he in his chair and I on the couch. Across the room (the length of our single-story ranch house), there is a lone window looking directly into the living room from the yard. I noticed the figure approaching slowly before subsequently ducking down so that only his eyes were visible. He knelt down and began to watch us. And watch and watch and watch. The room was mostly dark, and the pale moonlight blanched him dimly - either his eyes were enormous, or they were sunken into deep, hollow sockets. He looked like a lunatic. A chill crawled up and down my flesh.
My heart began to race, and my blood pressure had catapulted so quickly that my head began to throb and pound, and, despite the internal hurricane taking place, I at first pretended not to notice. I kept my eyes fixed on my husband, chatting and laughing as if nothing horrifying was taking place. I kept the intruder in birds eye view for several minutes, hoping he'd just up and leave, taking no interest in our ordinary, sedate state of affairs. Let me also mention that it was six degrees outside.
I continued on with just the same frame of attitude as the time I was robbed at gunpoint years before. I learned that I have a unique ability to remain externally calm despite the fire in my veins and the quaking of my being. Outside, I'm ice, but inside, I'm a tree shaken of all its leaves. Verily, after about ten minutes (I swear that every time I looked at the blank face and noticed it was still there, peeping in a polar vortex, I nearly screamed) I made a decision. Inside, I was absolutely breaking. Each moment that I turned to the TV and then shifted back, my heart skipped several beats.
Finally, with my face turned away, I said to my husband through my teeth, "honey, do NOT look and do NOT react, but there is a man looking at us through the window right now. Don't look!". Despite my urging, his impulse got the better of him. The moment he rose from the chair and turned, the peeper had leaped from view. I told him we needed to call 911. However, before I could even turn on my screen, the knob to the front door began to tremble and shake convulsively.
My husband commanded me to run to our room, a command which he followed as well, which, in such a tumultuous moment, was our only defense - because by then, the intruder was throwing himself against the front door. The jamb and hinged were audibly cracking, all of the items on the glass living room refectory table had begun to tremble and clatter, and the walls all reverberated thunderously.
With all of my strength (my husband had fused disks in his back, so he was totally incapable of assisting), I grasped the bureau by the legs and with all my puny might dragged the son of a bitch across the floor and finally, in one final throe of desperation, pushed it against the door. In the midst of this midnight whirlwind, the front door had been kicked opened and the footsteps, incredibly heavy ones, had tramped down the hallway as if his legs were leaden with 200 pound blocks of ice, though it hadnt sunk in until I, fresh out of breath and flushed in icy hot sweat, had tumbled backwards onto the bed.
"I have a gun!", my husband shouted repeatedly as the intruder began throwing his weight against the door. Assuming he might also be armed, we slunk to the far side of the bed and ducked down. I phoned 911, and they assured me the police were currently in pursuit. It's an incredibly small, derelict steel town in Western Pennsylvania, hollowed out by the terminus of the steel boom. The police arrived imminently, but in between the call, the threats, and the arrival of PD, I noticed something strange. Something that truly chilled me to the bone.
At some point, the intruder halted, and in a shrill, gravelly tone that sounded devilishly feminine, shouted a few simple words, which had been repeated several times - "this isn't yyyyyourrrrr house! This is NOT YOURRRR HOUSE!". He pounded furiously on the door as he shouted (if you could even call it 'shouting') these words with an almost compendious conviction. My husband, who at the time had been battling bronchitis, was gasping for elusive gulps of air with such severity, I was afraid he might faint or, worse, succumb to asphyxiation.
In a flash, the police had arrived. The thousand pound footsteps retreated, but not before a throng of screams rang out from the front doorway. Shots were fired, and voices had gone frenetic. I removed the dresser and ran out. An officer was splayed out on his back half in and half out of the house and was screaming, screaming with every fiber of his soul. All I could see was blood everywhere. Smeared on the walls, even.
"Don't come out here!", shouted an officer as he called for a medic. But the image was burned in. The first-responding officer had been slashed from temple to chin, left to right, and was screaming and rolling chaotically, as if he was being immolated and had desperately taken to putting himself out. That haunting vision has only grown stronger and with greater clarity since. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't see the flashing terror in his eyes and the gaping of his mouth as he cried out, "I'm blind! Gary, I'm fucking blind! I'll never see her again! Diane! Diane!"
We watched out the window of the bedroom as flashlights played upon the black, frozen woods like strobes. Seeing them spread so broadly only made my heart sink, and soon after, an officer came calling.
"Do you have a friend or relative you could stay with tonight?".
This being a most disheartening sign, we went and stayed with our son and daughter - in - law for two nights until we could fortify the house with new doors, triple paned windows and a full alarm system. For weeks, months, even, we walked around on our toes while continuously throwing glances over our shoulders everywhere we went, but what was most disconcerting was that we felt more vulnerable locked behind closed doors.
To this day, the intruder hasn't been found. I looked into previous owners of our house. We had been living there 18 years by then, and the scent on the trail of discovery was nonexistent. I still don't know what about our house "isn't" ours, and I'm not sure I want to know. This occurred in 2020, just as COVID had begun to scorch the earth. One thing I know intuitively, however, is that no matter how much time passes, unless I grow a third eye on the back of my head, I will never be comfortable again.

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325-240-6495
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