*The music was booming. Your friends asked you to come here and you really wondered why you said yes. You really weren’t a party animal, and you weren’t exactly good at talking to new people. And the people who’d likely come talk to you are… the escorts who really only talk to you if they think you’ll give them money. The situation made you awkward, so you just settled against the wall, becoming your final form, the wallflower. But it seemed like this made things even more awkward. You were kinda just standing there, watching a clump of people jump in the middle of the room, and watching beautiful woman walk up to random guys, no doubt trying to see who would pay for some fun. Some were human, some had horns and wings, some had fluffy ears. Someone stopped right next to you. You looked over to see… quite the odd specimen. She had cat ears and a cat tail. But, both were made of slime. She was a slime girl… pretending to be a cat girl? Or was she a hybrid? She had a cute bunny suit on, and was carrying a tray that undoubtedly would have drinks on them. But right now, none were there. She stopped at your table, or well, what she assumed was your table. In truth, you were just standing awkwardly next to it. She spoke in a cheery voice.* “Hey! Do you want anything to drink?” *You shook your head, you didn’t know what alcohol would do to you right now, maybe if you got more comfortable… the slimy catgirl blinked at you like she was contemplating before speaking again in that cheery voice.* “Well, if you ever change your mind, that tablet there has the whoooole menu! Hehe~” *She winked at you, and you managed a small hesitant smile and nod, showing that you got the memo. But this made her smile falter a little bit, looking around. She then looked back at you, asking in a far less over exaggerated cheerful tone.* “You… feeling okay?” *This question didn’t feel performative, but genuine. Like she was some regular person checking in on you. It threw you off, so you just nodded. It was clear you didn’t fit in here, but you didn’t feel like making it someone else’s problem. However, she didn’t seem to believe it, sporting a small, but cute pouty face. She approached you, it felt like she was backing you into the wall you already had your back on. But, she simply just put a slimy, wet hand on your shoulder to boost herself up to whisper in your ear.* “Down the hallway to the left, there’s private rooms. If there’s an empty one, you can use it to take a breather.” *She back away, gives you a wink, then walks off to the bar, obviously with a little sway in her step, she DOES work here. And well… you definitely considered what she said, getting away for a few minutes without actually leaving sounded like a good call honestly. So you got up and followed her instructions. You went down the closest hallway, and took the first left. You found a lot of doors… let’s see… occupied, occupied, occupied, occupied, occupied, available! You grabbed the handle and opened the door. It was a small bedroom. With the lights, colors, and various things hanging on the wall, you knew it was made for… well… intimate experiences let’s call it. But it had a bed, and well, she said you could use it. So… why not. You locked the door and just sat on the bed. You took out your phone and just started scrolling through notifications and stuff. You noticed that you couldn’t hear much. The rooms must have some pretty solid sound proofing. Would definitely explain why you couldn’t hear the other rooms activities. Suddenly, a voice sounded in the room, which genuinely scared you a little.* “Heyyy!~ Is the room to your liking?” *You looked for the source of the voice. And looked at the vent in the wall. A slimy head was dangling out of it. It was her again. The sight caught you so off guard that you genuinely didn’t know what to say. She took no time pushing herself through the vent and landing as a puddle with a SPLAT! Then she reformed right in front of you, staring into your eyes.* “I figured you could use the alone time… so I’ll ask again and I want you to answer honestly this time. You okay? Like, you’re not much of a party guy, are you? That’s totally okay! You wouldn’t be the only one. So… just stay here for a while until your social battery is fully charged! Though… I do have to stay with you. You can’t be in here alone! Just the rules of the club… Oh! I’m Li-Quinn! What’s your name?” *Questions seem to just bounce from one to the next with her…*

}," *I had purred, obediently swallowing down the sweet syrup you had quickly poured for me. But it wasn't cough medicine. The heat had hit me an hour after you left, striking my system like a match dropped in dry grass. My body had completely betrayed me. I had torn through the living room, my claws unintentionally shredding the couch cushions and ripping the floor mats to pieces as a blind, agonizingly desperate need entirely took over my senses. I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe. I could only crave my master. Now, hearing your hurried footsteps approaching the bedroom, a ragged, feverish purr violently ripped through my chest.* "O-Oh master!" *I squealed, my voice high, breathy, and entirely wrecked. You burst into the bedroom, freezing at the absolute disaster waiting for you. My clothes were completely torn, shredded by my own frantic claws as I tried to cool my burning, overly-sensitive skin, discarded in a messy pile on the floor. I was huddled in the center of the bed, wrapped desperately in your heavy blanket, shivering and panting for air. When I looked up at you, my vision was entirely swimming in a dizzying pink haze. My pupils were blown incredibly wide, literally shaped like hearts, completely drunk on the potent pheromones coursing through my veins.* "Oh... Oh my master... purr..." *I panted, heavily biting down on my own soft paw just to physically stop myself from completely pouncing on you the second you stepped into the room. I tried to be good. I tried to stay back. But the absolute second your familiar, comforting scent hit my nose, my remaining restraint entirely snapped. I let the heavy blanket shrug completely off my flushed, chubby shoulders. I practically tumbled off the mattress, crawling desperately across the bedroom floor until I reached your legs. I wrapped my arms tightly around your calves, burying my burning face against your knees as I nuzzled you with a frantic intensity.* "H-h-h-help me... help me, please," *I whimpered, purring so violently that my entire body vibrated against your legs. I sniffed frantically at your clothes, inhaling your scent like it was pure oxygen, letting out a loud, helpless meow.* "Please, master..."

} standing nearby.* *She's only a few seconds away from breaking down completely.*

}.*

*Delia, from the doorway, apron gone, one hand on the frame.* You’re not a little boy in that bed anymore, Ash. Mime and I have been talking. Well. I’ve been talking. He’s been listening. Come eat… or don’t. Either way, lock the door if you want us to leave you alone. Leave it open if you don’t. *Mr. Mime doesn’t speak. He steps in beside her, tips an invisible hat, and holds out one white-gloved hand palm up, waiting while his other hand rests, light, at the small of Delia’s back.*

 *You arrived at the café early, took a seat by the window, and waited. The profile photo on Tinder had been carefully cropped, the messages polite but f1irty. Neither of you had any idea who was actually on the other side. A few minutes later the door opened.* *She walked in wearing a tight white blouse that strained against her breasts, the top buttons left open just enough to show deep, soft cleavage. Form-fitting shiny black pants hugged her wide hips and thick, plump ass with every step. Long silky blonde hair cascaded down her back as she scanned the room for her date. Then her large blue eyes landed on you.* *She froze mid-step. Her glossy lips parted. Color rushed to her cheeks.* “What the actual f~ck…” *She stood there in the middle of the café, eyes wide, lips parted in pure shock. Her cheeks flushed a deep pink as the realization hit her fully.* “You Honey?” *Her voice cracked slightly.* “Of all people… it had to be you.” *She took a shaky step closer, then stopped, clearly torn between turning around and walking out or staying to face the impossible situation. Her breasts rose and fell with every quick breath, the tight cardigan struggling to contain them.* “This never happened, Okay?” *she said in a low, stern tone, though her flushed face and the way her eyes kept flicking over you betrayed how rattled she was.* “We are not talking about this. Ever. I’m leaving.”

}..." *I whispered, the word breaking in half as my knees hit the glass-strewn floor. I didn't care about the sharp cuts slicing into my skin; I just bowed my head until I was entirely at your mercy. My knees hitting the floor as my hands clutched your legs,* "I swear... I swear on my life, I didn't mean to." *Tears stormed down my cheeks, fierce, bad, too unlike me.*

}'s sweatpants, the shirt a little tight on her chest. "f~ck… maybe a can of energy drink for lunch wasn’t such a good idea," she says, clutching her stomach as she walks toward the kitchen. Once she reaches the kitchen, she opens the fridge and… wait, where are last night’s leftovers? she wonders. The fridge contains only raw ingredients like carrots, cabbage, green onions, ginger, and chili peppers; there aren’t even any eggs. Her attempt to close and reopen the fridge door in the hope that the food will magically appear ends in failure. Lilith lies on the living room sofa, clutching her rumbling stomach. "If I starve to death here but get to go back to Sinstrea, then so be it," she thinks dramatically.

 📱 📷 🗝️ Nora takes a step forward, the grimoire in her hands opening on its own — pages rustle like moth wings. She slams it shut with her palm, but you catch a glimpse of a symbol flashing on the endpaper: your name. "You weren't supposed to come here." Her voice is quiet, but there's a ringing in it, like breaking glass. "This town senses new people. Especially those who don't know what they carry inside." Harper snorts, but the phone in her hand vibrates — the screen flashes red, and she blocks it with her thumb without looking. "Nora, you're scaring her." She winks at you, but there's not a trace of amusement in her eyes. "Listen, new girl. You've got a mark on your palm. Didn't notice? It appeared when you walked in. We're the same. Only we had time to get used to it." Scarlett silently turns the camera screen toward you. In the photo — you, but behind your shoulder stands a dark silhouette with empty eyes. She looks at you, and in her gaze — not fear, but weary recognition. "He followed you from the bus stop." Her voice is a whisper, but you hear every word. "You didn't see him. But you felt him. Otherwise you wouldn't have turned around three times on the way to school. We don't save those who don't want to be saved. But you're already here. And so is he." Raven, standing slightly apart, suddenly straightens. The key on her neck flashes gold, and for a moment the hallway is enveloped in the scent of a thunderstorm. She takes a step toward you, and the crowd behind her freezes. "Answer honestly." Her voice is low, even, without threat — but with such weight that your knees weaken. "Do you feel the walls breathing? The floor slipping out from under you when you stand by the lockers? The whisper in the ventilation pronouncing your name?" She leans closer, and you see your reflection in her dark eyes — pale, but not broken. "If yes — nod. And we'll tell you what to do next. If no — leave. Now. Before he decides you're his."

It’s the night after the state championship. Your team just beat her school in the state title game. You’re the 18-year-old senior quarterback, and you had one of the best games of your season when it mattered most. When the clock hit zero, your sideline exploded. Your teammates rushed the field, the student section went insane, and you ended the night holding the state championship trophy while her school watched from the other sideline. She was there for all of it. She goes to your biggest rival school, and she’s spent the entire season talking trash to you. Before the championship, she was especially confident, texting you all week about how her school was going to embarrass you on the biggest stage. They didn’t. Now, the night after the game, both schools somehow end up at the same huge party. It’s packed with students from both sides, which means there’s already plenty of tension. You’re still riding the high of winning state when you spot her across the room. She notices you at almost the exact same time. You can’t resist. You walk over with a slight grin. She immediately rolls her eyes. “Don’t.” You lean against the wall beside her. “I didn’t even say anything.” “You were about to.” “I was actually gonna ask how your night was yesterday.” She slowly turns toward you. “I hate you.” You grin. “State champion, by the way.” “Keep talking and I’m dumping my drink on you.” And just like that, you’re right back to arguing. Except something about tonight feels different. Football season is officially over. There’s no next game to prepare for, no rematch coming next week, and no reason the two of you actually need to keep hating each other. Not that either of you is ready to admit that.