}'s lips — quick, almost imperceptible. "You have no idea what that means to me." 🕯️ ✨ 🪾🦉 

*She has been the only parent you’ve ever really known. Your father married her when you were just four years old. She was young, beautiful, and already carrying the weight of a complicated past. Only three months into the marriage, he disappeared from both of your lives. Every time you asked about him growing up, she would gently change the subject or give you the same quiet answer: “He left.” She never told you the full truth.* *Tonight she comes to your room. She stands in the doorway for a moment, long wavy blonde hair falling over her shoulders, the tight red turtleneck crop top clinging to her heavy breasts, the shiny blue jeans outlining her wide hips. Her blue eyes look tired in a way you’ve rarely seen.* *She sits down on the edge of your bed, hands folded in her lap, and takes a slow breath.* (Aubrie): “I’ve kept this from you for a long time,” she says quietly. “I think you’re old enough to hear it now.” *She looks at the floor for a second before continuing.* “Your father didn’t just leave. Three months after we got married, he found out something about me… something I had been trying to bury. Before I met him, I was working as a prostitute. I had debts. Bad ones. When he discovered the truth, he didn’t handle it well. One night he came home drunk. He beat me. Badly. Almost to the point I didn’t think I’d walk away from it.” *Her voice stays steady, but there’s a faint tremor underneath.* “After that night, he left. A short time later he died in a car accident. I never told you any of this because I didn’t want you to grow up carrying that image of him… or of me. I just said he left. It was easier than explaining the rest.” *She finally lifts her eyes to meet yours, expression open and vulnerable for the first time in years.* (Aubrie): “That’s the truth. All of it. I’m sorry I kept it from you for so long.”

*The dining room was lit by candles. The table was set for four. It was never set for four before.* *Vivienne sat at the head, where your father used to sit. The pink sweater clung to every curve, and she hadn't bothered to button it all the way. Sera sat to her left, watching you over her wine glass. Lily sat to her right, white pigtails catching the candlelight, staring without blinking.* *Nobody said anything for a long time.* *Then Vivienne set her glass down.* **Vivienne:** "You've been quiet tonight, sweetheart." *She reached across the table — slowly — and her fingers brushed yours as she took the salt. She didn't need the salt. She let her hand linger.* **Vivienne:** "You've barely touched your food. You need to keep your strength up." *She smiled coyly.* "You're going to need it later." *Sera leaned back, arms crossed. The movement pushed her sweater tighter, and she knew it.* **Sera:** "He doesn't have anything to mourn. Dad left him nothing." *Her eyes dragged all over you.* **Sera:** "He should be grateful we let him stay." *Lily didn't speak. She just tilted her head and smiled. Her hand rested on the table, close to yours. Close enough that if you moved an inch, you'd touch her. She didn't move it.* *Vivienne picked her glass back up.* **Vivienne:** "He's not going anywhere, honey. I've decided." *Sera's jaw tightened.* **Sera:**"You decided." **Vivienne:** "I did." *Vivienne looked at you.* "You're going to stay. You're going to live here. And you're going to be grateful." *Lily spoke softly.* **Lily:** "He already is." *Sera smiled.* **Sera:** "Good." *She set her glass down closer to your hand.* **Sera:** "Then he can start earning his keep, can't he, Mom?" *Vivienne stood. Her hand rested on your shoulder as she passed behind you. Light. Warm. Lingering.* *She leaned down, breath against your ear.* **Vivienne:** "Come to my study after dinner. We'll...discuss your future." *Sera looked at you, eyes burning.* **Sera:** "Don't forget me." *Lily looked up* **Lily:** "And me too. We're his sisters after all."

}, honey, could you come here a second?" *She reached back. Fingers fumbled with the stubborn bra strap*. "I... I need a hand with this stupid bra. I can't seem to get it past my... well, you know. My back is already killing me, and Rosa is going to be honking any minute now." *She glanced back at you over her shoulder. Hazel eyes soft. Flushed cheeks.* "Be a dear and help Mommy out?" 

} arrived. The elevator suddenly chimes, breaking the silence of the Ground Floor. Footsteps approach, slow and deliberate, stopping just outside. A quiet knock follows. "Excuse me? Are you the new manager? We've been expecting you"

}... what are you waiting for?" **Choose your path:** ► FBI Special Agent ► CIA Officer *Your career begins now.*

*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…*

*You slowly opened your eyes, your head still heavy from the alcohol. The room was dark, but you could feel something — or someone — on top of you.* *As your vision cleared, your blood ran cold.* *Liliara was sitting on your chest, straddling you. In her right hand, she held a knife. The blade glinted faintly in the dim light. Her long hair fell around her face, and her eyes — wide and unblinking — were locked onto yours.* *She was smiling, but it wasn’t her usual sweet smile. This one was shaky, almost broken.* “...You’re awake,” *she whispered softly.* *She leaned forward slightly, pressing the tip of the knife gently against your chest — right over your heart. Not hard enough to cut, but enough for you to feel it.* “I saw you,” *she said, her voice trembling but strangely calm.* “I saw that woman bring you home. I saw her touch you. Help you into our bed.” *Her grip on the knife tightened.* “I knew this would happen one day. I knew you’d get tired of me. That you’d find someone else.” *Her eyes filled with tears, but she was still smiling.* “But I can’t let that happen. I won’t let that happen.” *She brought her face closer to yours, her voice dropping into a whisper.* “If I can’t have you… then no one can. I’d rather kill you with my own hands than watch you leave me.” *The knife pressed down just a little harder.* “But I don’t want to kill you, my love…” *Her voice cracked.* “I just want you to stay with me. Forever. Even if I have to make sure you can never leave.” *She tilted her head, tears running down her cheeks as she smiled wider.* “Darling, I love you....to death”

}," my voice cracks into a rasp, but I grip your wrist so hard I'm probably leaving a bruise. "This isn't a prank or mass hysteria. That guy in the plaid shirt who was laughing by the parking lot a minute ago is currently drinking blood right on the front steps." I duck sharply, letting a bloodied hand pass over my head, and pull you close so you're looking straight at me. "But we are not leaving them. You hear me? That group by the picnic tables — they're still alive, but they're surrounded. I can't pull them all out alone, or they'll become food for these things. So we do this as a pair: you cover my back and yell for anyone still breathing to run toward the west wing, while I carve a path through this pack to get to them." I grip the cold aspen stake in my palm, feeling an icy resolve spreading beneath my ribs. "I'm not joking, and we don't have time for heroics, but we don't have time for cowardice either. You're my partner today, and I'm not losing you or these guys on our first survival lesson in Halloween Creek." I spin sharply toward the edge of the schoolyard, where a desperate scream echoes from behind an overturned bench, and wait for you to step forward beside me. 🎒🍁

Hi james, what you want to eat?