What's on your eye-
**[WP] You're studying your face in the mirror, you glance over to your left eye, studying its intricate curves when you notice just below your iris is a neatly inscribed serial number.**
The sun seeped through the windows, its rays flashing against the children who still lay sound asleep. A few would groan in irritation, only to pull their blankets higher over themselves. Who would blame them for doing so. The cool crisp air that came with the spring was definitely enough a reason to stay in bed.
But of course, when the rays of light became too persistent, some would definitely be forced awake, especially when its radiance grows too intense. What else could be done except to sit awake and just prepare for the day. That was the case of Charlie who was the first to wake. Apparently, being given the bed closest to the window was only enjoyable in evenings but in the mornings, it was a spot he well avoided. The spot was oftentimes too bright and too hot.
Charlie sat up from bed. A groan of defeat escaping him as he begrudgingly forced himself to a stand so he could go about his usual morning routine. At 15, he was one of the busiest kids in the orphanage. As a top student who had already advanced to college, he was the most cherished of their caretakers. And as much as he enjoyed making his caretakers proud, as well as being able to teach his younger siblings, it was still no easy task to teach, study and do chores needed to be done.
The stress of having to maintain his scholarship and his relationship with the people around him was finally taking a toll on him.
As he reached the bathroom, he gazed at his reflection in the mirror. Messy hair, pale and a very unhealthy complexion. And it seemed that he had grown a bit thinner too. But what would be the most noticeable feature would be his eye bags. Ah yes, his heavily darkened eye bags that would probably be the first thing anyone would notice about him.
He leaned in closer to inspect himself more. He was sure he needed a shave but as he was reaching for the razor, he noticed something on the corner of his eye. Literally it was something on his eye- something he had never noticed before.
He pushed down the skin that covered his eye and there he saw something small. He had to go back to the room and get his magnifying lens. When he finally saw the series of numbers and letters, his eyes widened with shock.
How did anything manage to get into his eye? He had tried rubbing with his palms, rinsing with running water but every time he would check again, it was still there. Panic overruled him but he needed to act as if everything was perfectly normal when the other kids had started getting out of bed one by one.
He couldn’t dare ask to inspect the rest of their eyes so he had decided to pack up so he could head to his classes instead. On his walk, he glanced at the people that would pass him by. He was curious. Oh how Charlie wanted to ask but that could wait to when he arrived in his class.
In times like these, he could only trust one person. And that person was Andy, his best friend. Bruno. He was the only college student who had been willing to hang out with him despite his age and background. He knew that if it came to the weird things, Bruno would understand.
The moment he arrived, the familiar sight of his friend was the first thing that greeted him. And as soon as he arrived, Charlie immediately grabbed Bruno by the arm and dragged him to the laboratory’s bathroom. It was the most isolated place he could think of and it was definitely a place that nobody would ever expect them to hide.
“I have something to tell you” Charlie peeked out of the cubicle before he locked it shut “And I think you’ll find this weird too” He handed Bruno his magnifying lens then pulled on his lower eye lid a bit. “There’s something written on my eye.”
With a doubtful expression, Bruno took the lens and directed It towards Charlie’s eye and the expression on his face was something that even Charlie hadn’t seen before
“Check mine too- There’s something like 2084793US on your eye” He immediately handed Charlie back the lens and proceeded to pull down his lower eye lid.
Charlie leaned close and directed the lens to Bruno’s eye “Yours is… 1986483US” They were both dumbfounded with their newfound discovery. It was unusual and if they both had it, then it might have been obvious that everyone had it. “We need to see if our families have this too”
They nodded in agreement but Bruno had decided to seat himself on the covered toilet “What do you think these could mean. Our numbers are too randomized for it to be a sequence… unless… they were arranged according to birth?”
“Oh! That could be it! But… how do we prove that…”
“there… should be a database of sorts… in hospitals… but how would we access that… “
With a light chuckle, Bruno smacked Charlie lightly by the arm “You should remember that we are med students. Those words were the exact reason for both their wide grins “The many perks of taking up medicine”
Charlie nodded in agreement “But our residency doesn’t start until a few months from now. It’ll be a long wait until then. Do you think we can manage that and do research for a while? I’m kind of nervous about this. It feels like we’re secret agents or something right now”
“Research is the thing you’re best at. I’m sure that by the time we get to our residency period, we can get enough info until then. So are we doing this?” Bruno raised his clenched fist high enough for Charlie to see. And with a cheeky grin, Charlie collided his fist with Bruno’s for a fist bump.
So I got way too busy with work since it's every day now so I haven't had the time to write here much. Gonna try to make time for R.E.D tomorrow or finish this tomorrow since it really caught my attention. Anyways, goodnight from this side of the world
My anxiety is at it again
You don't need to read this. I just need some place to let out my thoughts or I might actually do something reckless.
I wanted to continue R.E.D. today, honestly but then today, it just felt like everything was so hopeless. My anxiety was at the highest it's been in months. I don't know what to do but to write it out because I don't want to ruin any body else's day. https://read.cash/@Hanzell/red-0131e5ce
I guess that's always the case with anxiety no matter what degree. But today, it was too overwhelming. I am having a hard time functioning. Only pokemon helps me calm down, honestly. Maybe it's the only therapy that works for me now. I try to distract my thoughts by reading and commenting at random because in most cases, it does help but right now, nothing is helping.
I can't get my thoughts off my goals. I want to adjust it to make it feasible but I still want to aim high. I want to reach my goal of 100$ in crypto monthly but having to pay for my sisters' tuitions, their house expenses and bills and my own dorm expenses which I've reduced so much just to make everything fit into whatever salary I get. It's suffocating. my salary can't even cover everything yet they can't bear to adjust their budget to allow me to breath. It makes me think back to when I was only appreciated at home because I make their lives easier because I do their share of chores just so they could focus on their studies.
But then I keep thinking that maybe it was my fault that they have this strong, reliable projection of me when in reality, I'm this close to breaking.
Then there's also the case with my previous balance from College and then my tuition for review school for this year's licensure exam. I still need to finish paying for those because the review center just mailed me and I have a deadline of until the 28th to pay for almost 8,000 PhP or some 160USD. I have no idea how to do this. Been thinking of actually using up all the BCH I've been hodling (It's only at 0.1 rn because I've only been using what I get from noise.cash and I've just been swapping and unswapping from there) but then I want to save up 1BCH too at least before the first quarter. Because I've been seeing all you guys hustling so hard to make that happen while I'm still clueless on how to make it there.
I don't think I can ever tell these concerns to my family because the last time I ever voiced out my concerns, I was shocked to hear that "This is why nobody likes talking or discussing with you. You always sound so irritated and so negative. You're already contradicting when we haven't even tried it yet"
Yes, I'm pessimistic because I'm way too much a realist. If I know it will backfire then It most probably will. And it does then they blame me for not stopping them. I honestly don't know any way around anything.
There's also that job interview for the company I applied for. They rejected my application so I'm just left to extend my stay at my current company. I'm going to be forced to stay in that dorm. Alone this time, without my best friend. Alone to my thoughts. Maybe alone to pay such high dorm rentals as well.
And this time I might actually collapse from overwork. The ridiculous backlog, the unreasonable overtimes. The horrible pay. The lack of benefits. Sure it keeps my brain busy, away from my anxious thoughts and from thinking back on my now ex. But then nothing keeps me happy anymore except my dogs. 2021 has been out to get me. It feels like this year is just constantly trying to find ways to push me to the edge. I don't know anymore, honestly.
Anyways, if you managed to reach this far then thank you for reading. I hope it didn't ruin your mood. And if I could ask for help too.
R.E.D. 3
**[WP] You were designed to be a weapon of war, an angel of death. Your creators, however, told you that you would be a protector of innocents above all else. Now, centuries after humanity was extinguished, you awake once more to defend a budding civilization from destruction.**
**Chapter 1** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/red-0131e5ce
Chapter 2 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/red-2-885f6973
From a distance, Marc and Clyde kept watch of the happenings between the droid and the stray Anphi that was reduced to chunks of flesh in a matter of seconds
“Oy Marc… what do we do now... There are Anphis here” The moment Clyde uttered a few words, Marc was snapped back into consciousness. He felt around his body in search of the flare signals handed down to them
“The flares, do you have one?” Marc was asking, panic evident in his tone. At the thought, Clyde also began feeling through his clothes. He immediately raised the small stick once he felt it in his pocket “Hurry up and fire it before more of those things come out”
With shaky hands, Clyde raised it higher and pulled on the string that ignited off the flare stick. Red smoke shot up to the sky and as soon as they made their location known, they both ran towards where Gabby was, both shouting at her
“Gabby! Gabby! Are you alright?!?” Clyde was the first to reach her, immediately pulling her into a tight embrace “You idiot, why didn’t you dodge that tentacle!” He clung onto her frame as she was clinging onto the droid just moments ago
“I am, she saved me” For what felt like the longest time, all three of them did nothing but to embrace each other. “Hey… what do we do with her?”
They all glanced at each other then at the droid that was still collapsed on the ground
“Well, this is a sign that we should take it back with us” With one last glance, they all nodded in agreement. It seemed a better option and if it was meant to be an enforcer droid before, surely it would be a key factor that would help expand human territory, or if not, at least it would prove useful in attacking the Anphis. Or at the very very least, ensuring their safety like it did just moments ago by saving Gabby.
“So how are we going to do this” Marc was already supporting the droid by its back, hoisting it up to a sit
“We’re carrying like how we carry Granpa Sully when he’s drunk” Clyde was already on the other side, slinging the droid's arm over his shoulders ``You support her from behind, gabby. She’s pretty heavy”
She nodded, hands already pushing the droid up as Marc was slinging its other arm over his shoulders
“On the count of three, we lift! One.. two... Three!” They moved in unisons, slowly raising her until she was somewhat standing.
As they were starting their walk, the scouts came in, curious gazes scanning them up and down
“Explain yourselves” Was what the commandant in charge had demanded as he gestured to two other men to check on the Anphi corpse as the other took custody of the droid. It was amazing how easily the man had hoisted the droid up but the training for the scouts was far more rigorous than what they as scavengers experience.
Marc came upfront as soon as they were relieved of the weight of the droid. “We had found her, Sir! She saved one of our own here when she was forcibly taken by the Anphi you see there before she collapsed again”
The commandant leaned in closer, his gaze focusing on their own eyes as if to see if any of them were lying “And what do you intend to do with her?”
It was Gabby this time that spoke “Sir, we plan to take her under our custody. She does not pose as a threat, as far as we can tell. She might even be useful in expanding territories”
“And do any of you know how she works?”
“Sir, If I may speak and ask permission to study the droid. I am currently being given training by our engineers and technicians. We will submit a report as soon as we have any findings” Clyde had finally spoken up, showing off the badge that was given to him by his trainers. It wasn’t such a high-ranking one but it allowed him permission to at least be allowed to inspect weapons and machines found during scavenging trips.
It was enough and with that, the commandant had dismissed the three and lead them to the automobile they had ridden to arrive at their location
“Sir! May we take along the pod? It may prove to be something valuable. It was also where that droid was in when we had found it” It was new to both Marc and Gabby, to see Clyde be this persistent with the droid. As much as every information was good, this was something neither of them had ever witnessed before.
Although reluctant at first, The commandant agreed and had his men carry the pod onto the backside of the automobile before they all headed back to base.
Upon their arrival, they were all greeted with worried looks and that of fear. Was it because of the droid or was it because news immediately got out that they were targeted by an Anphi. They would never know because they weren’t even allowed a moment to breathe as they were all requested to report to the leader’s quarters… along with the still unconscious droid in their possession.
How will the kids handle this stress and pressure? I don't know yet either XD
R.E.D 2
**[WP] You were designed to be a weapon of war, an angel of death. Your creators, however, told you that you would be a protector of innocents above all else. Now, centuries after humanity was extinguished, you awake once more to defend a budding civilization from destruction.**
Chapter 1 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/red-0131e5ce
“Should we open it?” Clyde had come up front, being the one with the most knowledge on bots and machines. “If it’s a droid, I want to take it back with me and dissect it” He said with a wicked grin
“How are you gonna carry it alone with that small body of yours” Gabby scoffed and placed a hand on her hip, speaking in that “Matter of factly” tone Clyde had come to hate so much
“Well it’s already here, we might as well inspect it” It was Marc that spoke this time. He was already getting a good grip on the handle, ready to pull any moment “You up for it, CLyde?”
It wasn’t even something that needed to be asked. As soon as Marc mentioned inspecting it, Clyde was already clutching on the other handle of that hatch, ready to pry open its doors.
“On the count of three!” They all looked each other in the eye before Marc started off the count “One… Two,,, Three!”
It was a lot of pulling and with what little strength they had left, Gabby pitched in and decided to help pull on Clyde’s side. After much effort, they had finally managed to pry open the metal doors. They all gazed in awe as their attention all focused on the female android that looked way too human to be a droid but the protruding wires and the metal plates that were yet to be covered with silicon was enough to show that she was indeed not human
“Are you sure you want to dissect that, Clyde?” Gabby leaned in closer, extending a hand to get a feel of the silicone skin imitation of its face “It feels like skin”
“All the more reason to!” Clyde said excitedly, His grin reached from ear to ear, head filled with nothing but thoughts on how to reciprocate the materials and maybe even reciprocate the droid itself.
“So do we take it back?” Marc was skeptical as he observed the droid.
As they discussed what to do, they didn’t take notice of the fact that someone, or more like… something had been watching them. It crept closer and closer and in the blink of an eye, a tentacle had managed to wrap itself around Gabby’s torso. She was pulled away with a shrill cry.
Clyde and Marc were left dumbfounded, still processing what had just happened. Gabby was taken by an Anphi. There were Anphis here and they needed to get back to base to warn the people as soon as possible but their mini breakdown didn’t last long when they both noticed that the droid had sat up. And just as quick as it sat up, it bolted towards the figure that had captured Gabby.
A blade emerged from her hand and in a flash, Gabby was dropped to the ground and the creature was found next to her, not as the figure that had captured her but already cut into pieces.
The expression on Gabby’s face wasn’t even enough to display her overwhelming fear and relief. She inched closer to the Droid and clung onto it tightly but just as soon as it had saved her, it once again shut down, falling to the ground with a thud.
In R.E.D.'s unconscious state, a memory replayed
*"Make sure you get the codes right on this one!" The head technician was shouting from the elevated platform. People were buzzing like bees, trying to gather data and to get the materials needed to complete the project "This one needs to be perfect"*
*With a proud grin, he came down from the platform and made his way towards the center of the room where their most prized weapon was still in assembly. "You will be the protector of the innocent. The one that will save us all."*
*That was the very first bits of data the Responsive Enforcer Droid could ever retrieve in between the trial runs that it had to undergo.*
*The droid was supposed to be the weapon that would Help Segua win the raging war against their invaders Muglus and Efrain. It was an all out world war. One of the biggest the world has ever seen. One that even involved the smallest of countries. R.E.D Was supposed to be the one to put a stop to all the killings and the chaos but what was supposed to be the day they would be doing their final test, their field test.*
*14 hours before the test run, Preparations were already being made but what they didn't expect was a bombing in their very own laboratory.*
*"Save R.E.D!!!" Save it at all cost!" The alarms went haywire. The people were in a panic. They were all running frantically, doing everything they could to escape death. Closing the hatch was the best way they could manage the safety of R.E.D.*
*It was a struggle but as they were finally about to seal the hatch, Foreign soldiers came in rushing, killing every person in their path. It was basically a ditch effort but the head technician wanted to assure the safety of their only hope. A shot, then another. His body grew weak but he still managed. And with his dying breath, he muttered his last words to R.E.D*
*"Make sure you end this war"*
*That was the very last few moments R.E.D. ever witnessed before its consciousness faded to black.*
Chapter 3 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/red-3-758da4b7
Will they get back to the base? And can they bring RED back with them? Find out in the next chapter
Secrets
**[WP] "I wish, it would be different," she said as she presses the barrel of her gun against his head.**
**[WP] you were dared by your friend to say "I know your secrets" to a random girl So you did the dare and think nothing of it but later in your house someone knocked on the door you opened and surprisingly the girl was there and said "what do you know about me".**
Blaring lights, booming music, yes. That was what college parties were all about. Or so my batchmates said. I never understood why college people came alive so much in such parties but looked so lifeless in class. Such as the group of friends I somehow miraculously established
"Hey, hey Jake. Look at that chick there" It was Tim that spoke, bottle in hand. He was the mischievous one among us. And was the one always on the lookout for girls yet girls kept staying away from him.
" Feel like he would be Jake's type" It was Sylvester this time that spoke. He was the trickster, always one to pull pranks and make dares. I was never safe with him around
"Maybe you should go talk to her" Last was Flynn. The only person I would call normal in our abnormal friendship honestly.
I scratched my nape lightly and turned from them to collect my drink that the bartender had just served "As if a guy like me would have a chance with a girl like that"
They all booed in unison and instead of putting the teasing to a stop, It instead somehow inrensified the teasing.
"I have an idea. I dare you to go and tell her 'I know your secret'" With that suggestion, I wasn't even sure if Sylvester was up to his usual antics or if it was the alcohol in his system that was already speaking.
What was more saddening was that after the suggestion, they seemed to love the idea and kept pushing me towards the girl until we had collided with each other. It was unfortunate that her drink spilled over her shimmering black top but instead of throwing a fit like any normal girl would, she just smiled at me and told me it was fine.
Of course, I helped her clean up a bit.
We headed to the bathroom where she wiped off the liquor that spilled over her skin whilst I did what I could to kind of, let tissue paper absorb whatever liquor had soaked the top
"Hey, I'm really sorry about bumping into you" I glanced at the mirror, smiling apologetically as she emerged from the shower stall
"It's really fine, you didn't have to lend me your hoodie, it's pretty cold out" She walked towards me until we stood side by side. She was watching as I continued to dab the cloth with tissues
"I'm still sorry. Especially since I already know your secret"
The look on her face was one I can't even describe. The mix of shock, fear? I didn't dare want to find out what more her features could portray when she muttered "What do you know" under her breath.
I had made a run for it before she could even face me. I didn't even bother telling my friends that I was headed home. Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I immediately made a run for it as soon as I escaped the house the party was being held.
Lucky for me, my house wasn't that far from here. After a good 20 minutes of half running and breaking into a jog, I arrived home, locked the door and slumped down on the floor, exhausted from what I had just done. I made a mental note to myself that a woman's anger is probably one of the most terrifying thing I have ever witnessed in my life.
I wasn't sure when I had fallen asleep that night but I woke up to the sound of knocking on the door. The door which was just behind me.
It didn't occur to me to check who it was that was knocking so the moment I opened the door, I was greeted with the very girl I was running away from last night
"What do you know about me?" Her expression was grim. Dark circles lingered under her eyes. She probably didn't sleep in the attempts to hunt me down. "Speak!"
I yelped at her demand, raising my hands in a defensive manner "I-I don't know what you're talking about" I pleaded, but she kept inching closer until I heard the door slam and the locks click.
"Speak or I'll shoot your brains out" I was late to take notice of the gun she held in her left hand. It only dawned on me when the cold metal barrel pressed against my head. Chills ran down my spine, and so did the tears that flowed down y cheeks as I begged her not to shoot "I don't know your secret! I was just dared to say that! Please!!!!"
"You could be saying that. And I thought you were cute too"
I didn't know I was backing up way too much until my back hit the corner. I had no chance of escape anymore
"You knew I was a drug dealer, didn't you"
I shook my head frantically. And as much as I was in shock, I don't dare add more fuel to her rage
" I wished it would have been different and that you never discovered this secret" With the pull of her trigger, blood splattered across the walls. "It's nothing personal. But loose ends while keeping a college student cover is bad for business.
And with those final words, she walked out of the house as if she had done no wrong.
I'm just using stuff from my reserves. I'll continue R.E.D tomorrow. The overtime today was hellish.
Also... kinda wanted to ask if you guys could help out a bit with financial stuff. I made a huge mistake last year
R.E.D
**[WP] You were designed to be a weapon of war, an angel of death. Your creators, however, told you that you would be a protector of innocents above all else. Now, centuries after humanity was extinguished, you awake once more to defend a budding civilization from destruction.**
Year 87, new earth years
"The Anphis, an extra terrestrial race that invaded one planet after the other. They were definitely a force not to be reckoned with but at those times, humanity were clueless of what this species could do. It has been 87 years since the Anphis arrived on earth. 137 years of pure misery as humanity was driven out of their homes, their cities and in some cases, even their own countries. It was horrible. At first, the Anphis declared peaceful negotiations over the current United Nations Head of that time but we weren't sure what had happened after the "negotiations". All we knew was that after that peace talk, they started attacking. House by house, street by street, they captured the humans and threw them into these floating cars that teleported us to whatever ship it was. I remember seeing some of them eating the young ones. I was lucky I escaped but it wasn't an easy escape. I nearly got caught if it wasn't for my brother- Those Anphis were creepy! With their Claws that could be as sharp as knives, ugly face and teeth so sharp they cou-"
"That's enough, dear" The children and even Grandpa Sullivan himself jump in their seats, clearly startled as a sweet lady made her appearance "The kids are getting scared and it's pass curfew"
"It's just getting good, hun. We're almost done with story time" Sullivan whined in unison with the children as they pleaded an extension just for the story to finish
"You guys know it's curfew. Your trainers won't be happy if you wake up late again just because of Grampa Sully's stories" She glanced at each of them with a stern look but none sterner than the one she had given Sullivan "And you should know better than to tell them stories. They're not ready to be facing the Anphis just yet"
No more words were uttered and one by one, the children filed out of the room and went off to their respective rooms to get the sleep they needed. Left behind was Sullivan and Lucille
"Sully, I know they like your stories of when this all started... but our grand kids, they're too young" She breathed out a deep sigh as she settled herself on his lap
"I know but they're bound to face those monsters eventually" his arms wound around her frame and pulled her close enough so that her weight was on him "It's just a matter of time before they're moved from scavenging to combat training and if they do good like their fathers did... it's just a matter of time" They both sighed, distress evident on their features. If only the Anphis never came and if only they could do something for their grandchildren that were left in their care.
The horns sounded of at 0500, children of all ages filed in one by one into their respective units. While all the remaining adults rushed to get into their respective departments. At 0515, the horns stopped and the one called leader stood on the podium to give assignments to each unit
"Good day everyone. It is now the 193rd day of year 87. I'm happy to see that our numbers haven't gotten down since the last time we had an encounter with the Anphis and since we relocated."
The crowd cheered and for a few minutes, even the leader applauded the good news as well
"However, supplies are running low. We will need to go out again soon to scavenge for supplies and if we can find more weapons, that would be highly appreciated. Now, my young warriors. I wish you good luck in this mission of yours. There seems to be no threat outside, or so the outside scouts have reported. Hopefully it stays that way"
And so, with the crowd cheering out to the younger ones that would, for the first time in so long, experience going outside. They marched to the exit that was blocked by such strict safety measures such as the three layers of reinforced steel gates.
Outside the scorching sun blazed rather extremely. And as much as simulations had prepared them for that much heat, the real one was more intense than they had taught.
Each unit was assigned a specific place and it was rather unfortunate that Marc's unit was assigned the furthest spot on the map.
It was a really long walk and by the time they had arrived, they barely had the energy to do much looking around. What did catch their attention there though, was the large metal pod and engraved on the pod was R.E.D - Responsive Enforcer Droid.
Chapter 2 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/red-2-885f6973
And that's where the intro ends. I went with a sort of post-invasion kind of thing since i think i'm still devoid of proper emotions
My last letter
I was pretty sure things wouldn't last when I met you. You honestly just wanted fun and I was just curious of things. I don't know how things came to this but never did I regret anything. I don't think I ever would. Time with you was precious. Much more precious than I had hoped for. You were precious to me.
I had wanted to spend much much more time with you. Those unfulfilled dates before covid came. That promise of a swimming trip. I don't think we'd get to do that after all but I still hoped we'd get to go on those when things had calmed down a bit.
I sincerely hoped for more time with you after having met you. After knowing more about you, After getting to see a lot of sides of you and your ideals. They were all precious memories I will hold dear to me. I love you. I always will. You were among the only people I dated that mattered to me this much.
I don't question why I wanted to spoil you so much. I also don't question why I prioritized your wants before mine. That smile on your face was already enough to make my day. Knowing that you're eating and that you're happy. They became my happiness too.
You have no idea how often I would pray for your safety and health even if I wasn't such a religious person. You were the only person I ever offered such things for.
I understand that half the time, I was the cause of your sadness and that I sometimes trigger your depression with my impatience and insensitivity but I always tried to pull you back out. I never wanted you to be in that dark space. It seemed much better that I suffered that for you.
But then my own anxiety attacks might be enough, maybe too much for me to handle already.
I don't know what I'll do or where my mind will be for the next few days. I'm just lost right now. 2 years is no joke for me. and I had hoped 2 years made an impact on you as much as it has with me. This is the last letter I'll ever write for you.
Though I won't be the one to give this to you. I sincerely wish you happiness. On your own, your hobbies and in whomever you meet in the future. I just really want to see you happy.
Sincerely,
MVH
Watch 3
**[WP] At 18, your father finally gave you his antique Swiss watch. "The watch will stop working when you're seconds away from death. Live a good life", your father always told you. Now at 26, you're celebrating your 1st wedding anniversary. As your wife pours you a glass of wine, the watch stopped.**
**Chapter 1** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/the-watch-1-13713883
Chapter 2 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/watch-2-bcdabbdc
"We need to get out of here-"
"But there's no way out"
"The fire exit" Reiner’s gaze frantically shifted between the now hole-filled wall then to the door which was the source of stomping feet.Adrenaline and fear overruled his thoughts. He grabbed Lindsay's hand then pulled her to the direction of their room. That was where the fire exit was. They both thought they would manage as soon as they got onto the railings but as soon as they opened the window, something struck both of them on the arm, small needle-like items. There wasn't much time to inspect it but one thing was sure, in a matter of seconds, whatever was in those small needles was the cause of it. The next minute, they were still trying to climb out the window then they were both collapsing on the ground with their visions fading to black. The last thing they could remember was the sound of the door breaking and the feeling of being hoisted up. After that, nothing.
When Reiner had come to, he wasn't even sure if he was really awake since everything was still pitch black. The only thing that could assure him of consciousness was the murmurs that erupted whenever he struggled to move and the cold that touched the bits of exposed skin whenever he moved.
"Where am I?!? Where's my wife!" He was panicking, it seemed like he was strapped down on some board and no amount of struggling seemed to work against whatever restraints held him down.
"You, Reiner Bruno, Are in custody for possessing stolen artifacts. The prediction
watch. You need not worry about your wife. She's safe. Still resting but she's innocent"
"Prediction watch?! You must be kidding me. That crappy watch is nothing but a curse!" He was growing livid with the person's claim on the watch that he still believed was the cause of his father's death.
He was about to continue on with how it was nothing but junk but before he could say more, his blinds were removed and the blinding white of both the light and the room made him groan. " You just don't know the full extent of the watch" The man turned the dial that indicated the minutes and what shocked him was the flash of light showing small screens. Nothing like that ever happened when he was tinkering with it years back. "These, young man,are the possible futures this watch can predict. It seems knowledge on how to use it wasn't passed down your family."
"Is that what my father saw"
A sinister grin stretched upon the man's lips and what he said was something Reiner wished he never heard. "No boy. That was me trying to steal back this watch. I admit that after that, you did an excellent job hiding but this is the end of the line for you" He threw the watch towards him and as Reiner glanced to the watch by his feet, he could see that the watch was still at a stop"
"It still tells the user when they die"
When He looked back up at the man, he could see the hand gun held snuggly in his hand
"Oh. And I lied about one thing. Tell your wife a hello for me on the other side"
His eyes widened and before he could say more, his head was thrown back with a bullet now lodged in between his eyes.
It's doneee!!!! Now I'll be going back to one-shots for a while and I hope I can draw again this week
Watch 2
**[WP] At 18, your father finally gave you his antique Swiss watch. "The watch will stop working when you're seconds away from death. Live a good life", your father always told you. Now at 26, you're celebrating your 1st wedding anniversary. As your wife pours you a glass of wine, the watch stopped.**
Chapter 1 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/the-watch-1-13713883
It took years for Reiner to recover from the trauma of watching his father die before his own eyes. And it seemed like for the longest time, nothing but nightmares followed him no matter the change in residence and even the change in country. It seemed as though every car that passed by, every tic of his clock had gotten to him. Haunted him. Made him paranoid. No moment passed where he would not look at his wrist, just to assure himself that the clock was still moving.
At the age of 20, he had finally thought that therapy would help. That he needed to get over his PTSD and that he needed to live his life again. That was what he so desperately needed. The only thing that was stopping him though, was that even the thought of driving seemed to scare him.
Fortunately for him, he had found a psychiatrist willing to do home treatments.
Although a home treatment wasn't the best way to the road to recovery but it was a better option than having that constant fear that at any moment, he might die.
And so on a Friday night, he had his first session where he had first opened up to his female psychiatrist about the incident.
Although he wasn't sure she was buying it or simply thought he was going crazy. He probably was. But having someone to listen helped. It had helped in ways that he never expected. Little by little his psychiatrist would initiate some things as simple as going outside for a while. Then it lead to going out on walks around the nearest parks. Then it became cafes and after two more years in therapy, he had asked her to be his girlfriend. One which she had gladly accepted.
He wasn't even sure how he had manage to make her agree but the joy from such a simple "Yes" was beyond anything he had felt in the past years.
Months after dating, he had asked her to move in with him since she was already always in his residence. Then after a few more months, he had asked for her hand in marriage. At 25, they were finally wed.
That "I do" was the start of nothing but sheer bliss, contrary to popular opinion.
The day was never enough for them. With her working in the office and him working at home. He had managed to be the perfect house husband to her and she, the perfect wife for him.
In a flash, a year had passed and it was the night of their wedding anniversary. It was supposed to be a special dinner for them but as his wife was pouring him his glass of wine, he froze. His watched had stopped and the next thing he knew, a gust of wind passed them by, his wine glass shattering in his hold.
"Duck!"
In a matter of minutes, a myriad of bullets came rushing in from who knows where. Lucky enough that they had managed to hide themselves under the table. It wasn't much of a shield but it did hide them from sight. After some time, the noise had subsided and they peaked out, only to be greeted by the sound of feet rushing up the steps to their apartment.
Chapter 3 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/watch-3-ac97c10c
Too tired from work and the constant fear of seeing that radiation box was making me paranoid so this is the best my brain could come up with. I will definitely end this on the next chapter ;;-;;
good night for now ^u^
Only the sky knows
**[WP] Relationships between Human and Dragon are forbidden. Not because it is heretical, but instead to spare the dragon the pain of when they inevitably outlive their lover.**
“Viktor! Viktooorrr! Get yer lazy bum down ‘ere an’ gemme some wood for cookin” Such calls were basically an everyday wake up call for Viktor Nikolai. Rare was it that he would be allowed to sleep in and rarer was it that his mother would be in a good mood in the morning. So instead of putting her in a fouler mood than she already was, he would just resort to waking up with a groan or grumble out some profanities as he proceeded to the task, but he would still do them without fail. And getting firewood for that day was no exception.
As he made his way up the steep snowy path, he noticed the most unusual thing he had ever seen. It was a rock. A large rock that irradiated a blue hue. Curious as to what it was, he came closer and closer until he was close enough to pick it up from the snow it was nestled in.
He had wanted to inspect it further when he heard his mother call out to him from the foot of the hill. And again, that thundering voice of hers never failed to surprise him with how far it reached.
Knowing that she would continue to call him, he hurriedly pocketed the stone then proceeded to chop the nearest tree and returned with a pile of wood which his mother immediately took from him
“Go put up a fire for the bath. I’m gonna cook” Without a word, he nodded then went out back where they had set up their water storage. He began throwing in chunk after chunk of wood and as soon as the fire was lit, he could feel shaking in his pocket. His hands wandered his clothes in search of the shaking until he stopped at his pocket. It was the rock and it was somehow reacting to the heat. The closer he got to the fire, the more it shook. After taking a few moments to ponder on what to do next, he had decided to place the stone into the fire. And as soon the stone had nestled into the fire, it had stopped moving
“Such a weird stone” Was what he thought to himself yet for the following days, he found himself always keeping the fire lit. And each passing day, he would watch how the stone’s blue glow seemed to grow stronger until one day, he heard a crackling sound. At first, he had thought it was just the fire but then he heard it again and the next thing he knew, the stone was breaking apart.
Blue flames emerged after some time; he could see small wings flapping open. It was a dragon egg. Never had he seen a dragon before, much less its eggs. They were long thought to be owned only by the nobles, but it turns out, there were still free dragons that roamed the land. And this one was one of them.
It seemed rather attached to him and in the first few days since it hatched, Viktor decided to hide it in his vest and carried it everywhere he went until of course, when it got too big to even hit into his shirt. It only took around a week before it was already half his height and by that time, the dragon could hunt for itself and was already learning how to fly but to be safe, he mostly made the dragon walk on its legs to not be seen by the others.
But it seemed like no matter what precaution he had thought of, eyes would never fail to notice them. All of a sudden, their house was ravaged by the villagers, wanting to claim the dragon to sell it off to some desperate noble but to Viktor’s surprise, the dragon had thrown him onto its back and flew off so they could both escape safely but for sure, these people would go to any lengths for a quick buck. It would not be long until they would be hot on their trail.
Night fell and they took refuge in an abandoned cave and out of sheer exhaustion, with adrenaline finally catching up to them, as soon as they hit ground, they both just collapsed and blacked out.
When Viktor had finally roused from his slumber, it wasn’t a scaly dragon that was beside him, but a young woman who was tucked in his arms. He was about to yelp in surprise but when he noticed that she was starting to wake, he held her closer. There was something about her that felt right whenever their skin would make contact.
He gazed at her for what felt like the longest time, and just simply watched her sleep comfortably in his arms. Even as her lids slowly fluttered open, he just watched and smiled to her. The moment she saw her pupils, he knew that it was the dragon he was raising
“Hello” His smile grew wider when he saw her reciprocate his smile.
“Hello to you, Viktor” Her smile was as radiant as the light of that morning and he had thought that he wanted nothing more than to stay like that for as long as time allowed. Growling stomachs where an interference to that small fantasy, however and soon they were forced to get up to hunt for food. And maybe find clothing for her.
Needless to say, She was a much better hunter as a dragon than as a human. In human form, she could barely walk straight and it took her some time to figure out how to walk properly, much more, to walk without making a sound so that they could hunt easily.
“Oh wait, I never asked. What’s your name?” He looked to her curiously, yet she seemed to be distracted by the clear sky
“The sky tells me I’m called Tilli” Her attention shifted to him then she smiled, one so bright that it could rival the sun even “Sounds strange to say that the sky gave me that name, but such is the fate of all dragons”
He nodded with a hum “What else does the sky tell you about?”
She shrugged her shoulder, probably clueless on where to start “A lot of things but mostly she tells me to stay away from humans. Right now, it tells me to stay away from you because you’ll hurt me and it's forbidden” Her gaze again turns to the blue sky as she exhaled a heavy sigh “sometimes I don’t even know what it tells me about but I just listen anyways. There was something about leaving me alone too but that can't be true, right? You'll always be with me”
Since that time, He didn’t ask again about what the sky told her but on times, he would catch her staring at the sky and at times, tears would well up in her eyes yet he would pretend to not have seen and instead, he would do everything he could to cheer her up.
Their companionship grew stronger with the years and they even made a place for themselves in the woods they had escaped to back in their youth. In all that time, never did Viktor regret having fled his homeland. How could he when each moment was bound with adventures, either the quests they would accept on the rare times that they would go to the nearby town at the outskirts of the forest or simply just when they decide to wander on their own accord. It was never a dull moment.
Just like in that moment. They had accepted a quest that was to exterminate creatures that were trying to reside in the forests near the neighboring town. According to the quest description, it was just minor creatures but upon their arrival and first very accidental encounter with the creatures, there was nothing minor at all about 10 feet tall ogres that were armed to the teeth. Viktor was doing everything he could to serve as the bait as Tilli had made preparations for pitfalls on such short notice. They had planned to trap the creatures in the pit and Tilli would deal the finishing blow with her flames but they never anticipated one ogre to start throwing boulders at Viktor’s direction. Boulder after boulder, Viktor would jump or dodge the rain of boulders. They both thought they would get through this together like the countless of times that they had turned the tables, but this time wasn’t one of those. This time wasn’t one of those times where Tilli would be worried sick while Viktor would smile like the simpleton he was despite having so many injuries. No. This time, Viktor was an unfortunate victim caught in the downpour of boulders.
In that moment, Tilli felt her heart shatter in a thousand pieces. Her movements had come to a stop and she crawled out of the pit. She ran to where Viktor was. She had hoped it wasn’t too late, but it seemed fate had other plans for her. It was only a protruding hand that remained intact, the entirety was nothing but a puddle of blood.
She clutched his arm, holding it close to her as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her flames soon began consuming everything in its path. By the time the fire had been put out, there was nothing but ashes and there, at the very center, was she who still held onto the bones of her beloved Viktor. She finally understood what the sky meant that day when it wanted her to stay away from Viktor. He did hurt her in the end. And it was the kind that was embedded so deeply in her soul that every waking moment without him felt like death to her.
I'll continue watches tomorrow. I at least wanted that to be a happy ending. Today, I just feel sad because of the issues at the dorm
The watch 1
**[WP] At 18, your father finally gave you his antique Swiss watch. "The watch will stop working when you're seconds away from death. Live a good life", your father always told you. Now at 26, you're celebrating your 1st wedding anniversary. As your wife pours you a glass of wine, the watch stopped.**
As James gazed down at his new born, still waddled in blankets, he smiled to himself, thinking that this was one of the best moments of his life. He glanced at the watch on his wrist, humming and hoping that it wouldn’t stop like how it had for his father when he was born. He still had much to teach the boy. Oh, how he hoped.
3 years since that day, the infant grew to be named Reiner, A very fitting name for a child that seemed to be too adventurous for his own good.
“Rei, come here, kiddo” James had patted his left leg, to which the 3-year old had eagerly perched himself on.
“Is it story time?” A very cheeky grin graced his lips, excitement evident in the child’s tone and a spark could be seen in his bright eyes.
“Yeah, it’s story time again. What do you wanna hear about this time?” James held the boy close, an arm around their small frame.
“Hmm.. how about..” The child’s gaze shifted from one place to the other, looking for anything that he hasn’t been told about yet. After some time, his eyes finally landed on his father’s watch. The one he always wore and always tried to keep close to him as much as possible.
“Ahh, this old thing?” Reiner nodded almost instantly as James raised his arm enough to show off his watch. “I’ll tell you another time. How about I tell you a story about the small gnomes that hid outside?”
Whines of protest came pouring from the boy’s lips “But you told me I get to choose this time”
“I did but there are some things you can’t understand yet, kiddo” James flashed him an apologetic smile before directing both their attention to the tree that can be viewed from the room’s window “When the time comes. I promise I’ll tell you”
Reiner responded with a pout but nonetheless, let the topic go. Stories about small creatures was still a story. And with his dad telling it, it was bound to be a good one.
Years passed since that very day and Reiner would always ask about the watch whenever he had the chance. On some occasions, he would sneak into his parents’ room just to “borrow it” and tinker with it for a bit. The activity went on for years until Reiner finally concluded the fact that maybe his dad was just a little too overprotective of the only thing his late grandfather left him.
The last time he ever borrowed the watch was when he was 18. That time, he was nervous because the watch had stopped moving. He had thought that he broke it so he immediately returned it to the spot his dad usually places it.
That day, his father was strangely calm abu0t the affair. He wasn’t freaking out like on the other times that he had tinkered with the watch.
“Hey Reiner, come over here.”
He was nervous, expecting another sermon or maybe a beating this time. He was a bit too old for it but this time, it seemed like he deserved it for what he had done. Slowly, he approached his father but as he came closer, he could see that his father was holding the watch in his hand
“I need to go somewhere… I’m going to have you take care of this watch for me”
“But dad, Why are you giving me this?” Before I could protest, he placed the watch in my hand as he firmly held the other
“Just take it” He heaved a deep sigh "The watch will stop working when you're seconds away from death. Live a good life"
Reiner was dumbfounded, he wasn’t sure how to process everything and his father never allowed him the chance to. Before he could even utter a word, his father was already by the door. “I’ll be heading to work now. I hope I still see you later” With a weak smile, he left without another word.
The next thing he knew, screeching tires and screams could be heard from outside The car came crashing into their front porch where his father was still on. Nothing could be done. He just watched as his father was trapped in between the car and the broken fragments of what was previously a part of their house.
He couldn’t believe what he just witnessed. His gaze shifted from the now ticking watch in his hands then to his father’s body which was hung lifeless from the car’s hood.
Chapter 2 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/watch-2-bcdabbdc
Wil continue this later, I'm not done typing
I'm sorry, dear friend
**-can we just pretend that axolotls don’t exist so that this one makes sense at least XD**
**[WP] You were among the first of the Gods, and upon making the first creatures there was an issue, they lived an eternal life and did not appreciate it nor desire more. So you gave them the greatest gift you could imagine. Death**
It was the task of each god at that time to create a creature that would represent them on earth. The elders that fled from their previously destroyed worlds all created amazing wondrous creatures. Ones that they claimed never existed in their previous worlds.
It was an amazing show of creativity. Large greens that grew from the ground, winged creatures that could almost touch the heavens, wondrous scaled creatures much larger than the green “trees”, as some gods called it. Each and every creature they created were all so magnificent, even some of the minor gods gave it their best to at least come up with the small beauties that crawled the earth they inhabited.
It seemed there was nothing more for me to add and the pressure was definitely increasing as each god finished adding their contribution to this new world they called “Earth”
I, on the other hand, had created an abomination. That was what they called it. It had a smooth body, webbed feet and looked like a smaller version of what they called “Dragons” yet it posed no harm.
As a new God, I personally thought it was an adorable creature. One that was free to roam both earth and its vast oceans. I failed to notice one thing since its creation, however. That it was too perfect.
After some few decades since the time of creation, I was told that each creature was to bear this single flaw in creation and that was that cells that constituted their creations all aged. As for my creation, no flaw could be found. It was simply an adorable creature that went about its life.
In the few times that I tried making contact with this creature I decided to name axolotl, it never made noise. It just showed me its smile yet its eyes always said differently. There was tiredness in its eyes.
I could understand well with how often it was almost turned to food and how I failed to create a creature similar to it. I just couldn’t find a way to recreate it. Looking at its eyes, I understood now why the other Gods had instilled that flaw into their creatures. It was so their creations didn’t have to suffer the same way my axolotl also suffered.
Fro centuries, I searched for ways to end its suffering. I created creatures sent to pursue it, and hopefully to put it to rest but none seemed to work, or rather, they thought the same as me and couldn’t bear to kill it when it looked at you with such innocence at a first glance.
Eventually nature wasn’t enough to keep it hidden and it was discovered by these humans some major god created.
I didn’t think I could feel more pity for my dear axolotl than I ever could. The humans were cruel. They kept harming my axolotl. It started from starving and dehydrating it. When starvation and dehydration proved to be useless tools for killing it, they soon started inflicting pain on it. They went from inflicting small wounds which healed after some time, then it came to severing off limbs just because of the fact that they grew again. Watching it was heartbreaking that I didn’t know how to go about it.
My dear creation did not deserve any of that pain. I only wanted to see it live happily but it seemed perfection was never meant for any creature.
When they started injecting various substances into my axolotl, that was when steeled myself and began collecting creatures the other gods made. I tried, in every way possible, to extract that flaw.
After decades, I finally did it!
And so, I came to Earth myself after the humans had finished toying with my dear axolotl
“Dear friend, I’m so sorry I allowed these creatures to harm you this much”
I removed the restraints on it and let it crawl onto my palm. It looked at me, as if it were pleading to finally be allowed to rest
“I know… I hope you can rest with this gift I will give you” I fed it the small essence of flaw I had extracted. Age immediately caught up to my dear friend with how many centuries it had been on that earth and in a matter of minutes, my axolotl reduced to nothing but dust. “Rest well, my friend. I’ll make sure to greet you when your soul reaches the gates of heaven”
With one last look at its remains, I ascended back up to the heavens to greet my creation.
Goodbye my love
**[WP] The main character happily sacrifices their happiness daily, even when it comes to true love.**
**[SP] "You know, I loved once. Let me tell you about it."**
On most nights, I would sit idly at the local pub, spending the night drinking scotch or bourbon in some unoccupied corner. Rare was it for people to ever want to keep me company. For in their eyes, I was simply a miserable old aged man, waiting to receive a visit from death. I’ve become senile, my siblings say on the rare times I would receive a visit. Maybe I did.
As I leaned back in my seat, I pulled out a cigarette stick and trapped it in between my lips. Ah, I forgot about the matchbox. I checked my pockets and looked around my seat and table, hoping I really didn’t forget it at work.
I was about to ask the bartender for any kind of match or lighter he had but before I could get up from my seat, a small flame flickered in front of the cigar that was protruding from my lips. My gaze followed the hand that held the lighter, only to find a young man offering a small smile.
“I thought you needed a light” was what the young man said before I muttered a small thanks and leaned in to get the tip lit. I inhaled the smoke deeply, the familiar sensation of the minty smoke filling my lungs for a few moments before exhaling everything out. “May I sit here? The other occupants… don’t seem like they’ll be willing to have their conversations disturbed…”
I only offered a nod and gestured for him to take the seat opposite from me. “So what’s a youngin' like ya doin in a place like this?”
He immediately slumped in his seat as soon as I finished my question. He seemed to contemplate for a bit “I just want to be happy. But I don’t think the world wants me to be”
I offered the other glass of scotch towards him, that to which he took gratefully and downed the contents in one go. “ Ya know, life is unfair. No matter what ya do, nothin will ever really belong to ya.” He looked up at me, agreement seemed to be the most evident emotion there before he exhaled a heavy sigh.
"When I was bout’ yer age, I was always told to share cuz I was the eldest. My favorite treats were never something I could have for me self. We were never that wealthy so sweets were a luxury.” I laughed inwardly at the memory, the boy had seemed to lighten up so I proceeded with my story.
“On the rare times that my parents could ever get extra funds from their measly jobs, they would buy as sweet breads or doughnuts and of course, having 5 other siblings, it wasn’t a pleasure to be sharin, especially when they still be complainin about wantin more. In those times, I would give up my share so they shut their yappin traps”
He breathed out a soft chuckle, the buzz seemed to be hitting him faster than I expected
“I never had anything like that but the girl I loved… I didn’t want to ever let her go. But I think… she’ll be happier with my best friend. They deserve each other” A bitter smile crossed his lips as he poured more whiskey into his now empty glass.
“Ya know, I loved once too. Lemme tell ya ‘bout it” I took another long drag of the cigar then exhaled it as I spoke “She was er'thyn to me. That beauty, brains, wits, and that rockin hot bod too. I really thought t’was gonna be me and her til the end. Til the war broke out and I was called to the army. Duty over me love was the biggest decision ever, ya’know?”
I gazed up to see him nodding before taking another swig of the whisky in his glass “But did you ever see her after your service?”
“Sure I did. Still the stunnin beauty that she was even after 2 years, ya’ know” it was my turn to let out a heavy sigh as I recalled the heavy memory “But she ain’t herself when I came back. Told me she found happiness in another. T’was like the bread thing with my siblings again. I just smiled at her and told her to be happy, that she ain’t need ta worry ‘bout lil ol me. Went back to the army, sacrificed my youth, freedom and happiness just ta stop the war, ya’know. Typical soldier sob story”
By the time I had glanced at him, he was already snoozing on the table. Guess the kid couldn’t handle his liquor well. I stood up and checked around his pockets for a phone. The moment I found it, I raised his head a bit to unlock the device with the face recognition then looked through his contacts to see who could come pick him up or if anybody could tell me where he lives. After some time scrolling through weird names, a message from the contact “Mom” popped on the screen and instead of replying, I called.
“Hello ma’am, yer son is knocked out at a pub,mind tellin me where he lives or if ya could pick em up or somethin?”
When the woman spoke, the oddly familiar voice seemed like a melody to me. It was her.
“E-Ed? Is that you? Is that really you?” She sounded happy yet nervous at the same time “My son’s with you? I’ll pick him up, tell me where that pub is”
I told her the address and apologized for not being able to drive him myself since I drank a bit too. In a matter of minutes she was already there, looking as beautifully as she did the last time I saw her. “Ya haven’t changed”
“And you’ve really changed. Thank you for being good to my son. I’ll pay you for your troubles”
I shook my head in a no then helped her carry her son to her car, awkward silence filled the air until I finally spoke up “Hey, were ya ever happier with Jake?”
“I was, but-” before she could finish her train of thoughts, I cut her off
“Then that’s enough for me” I could see a hint of pity in her eyes but I simply offered her the same smile I did so many years ago when we last spoke. “I wish you happiness again and hopefully ya get yer son outta trouble. The kid’s goin through a rough time with the girl he loved”
Her attention turned to the boy that was now lying in the backseat of her car. I made my escape. I heard her voice calling at me from a distance but I didn't turn back. She was happy and that was all that mattered. For the second time, I had to say goodbye to my love.
Food adulteration
When we say food adulteration, it generally means:
**Food that is generally impure, unsafe, or unwholesome.**
Either substances other than the ingredients listed are added to it, contains materials that come from a poisoned or substandard material (double dead animals, diseased animals and crops, wrong weight than what’s on the label/container etc.) or it’s been prepared or packed in unsanitary environments.
A prime example of this now is the evident fact that there are so many food additives put into food now, like in my last article where borax is added to some noodles and fish crackers and recently I found out that people put it into bread too and that bothers me a lot (You can read here: https://read.cash/@Hanzell/food-additives-sodium-borate-7ef4acb5). There so many prime examples so evident now such as sellers injecting water into the meat they sell (oldest trick in the book tbh), dipping fruits and vegetables for export into wax, the list goes on but for now, I want to just start with a brief history on this.
Food adulteration isn’t just a recent thing but it dates back much much further. The earliest records of it were from the early romans. Wine was a precious commodity and in most times, it was mixed with honey, herbs, spices, water and sometimes, salt water, chalk or lead. All of these were added as either a preservative or sweetener since fermenting technology wasn’t so developed yet. There were more documented accounts of these that could be found in Greek and Roman literature but I sadly couldn’t find more examples besides the wine.
In other texts though, some caravans that imported goods such as tea leaves were also cheated by adding rock into the containers just to make the recipients believe that there was more tea leaves in the containers. This practice continued on to the middle ages, the time where imported spices began to make its debut in the markets.
Since they were imported, they were generally expensive and to the dealers who sold their supplies to the lower class, the spices they received for reselling was commonly adulterated or contaminated with ground nutshells, pits, seeds, some berries, stones or dust. Of course it wasn’t just the spices that were contaminated but also the bread sold.
In those times, chalk was mixed into flour to make the flour look whiter and increase shortness. Milk was diluted, animal fat was mixed with butter and beans were also generally added to the bread itself.
Food adulteration became so rampant that in 1202, King John of England proclaimed the first English food law, the Assize of Bread, which prohibited adulteration of bread with such ingredients as ground peas or beans. This was one of the first laws ever documented to help regulate the quality of food. Needless to say, food adulteration continued because the cost of materials were quite expensive and there was a surge in food prices with the implementation of such a law despite their attempt to instill a fixed-price policy where the value of a loaf of bread was equivalent to its weight.
But because of this law, many guilds, mercantile and trader’s associations across Europe followed suit and began to form their own rules and regulations for consumer protection. This may very well be the most primitive form of what’s known as the food adulteration act that was established much later on in 1954.
Besides making appropriate punishments and policies for food adulterations, the establishment of a profession called garbelers (from the Arabic word garbel, which means to sift or select) was also established (around 1300s) Their job was to to detect adulterants from spices and similar products.
01-02-21 https://read.cash/@Hanzell
A hopeful new year
This might be a bit late but I was honestly whisked back and forth between my own house and my relatives house this entire January 1st. I'm not so accustomed to writing on a phone because my own typos irritate me XD.
Anyways, onto the main topic. 2020 was definitely one hell of a buzzkill for me. I was supposed to finish my thesis properly, graduate and get my license but the year had other plans. By march 15, 2020 the quarantine began. From what we hoped would last only a month turned into half a year of quarantine and honestly, in the months of March to May, I was in and out of anxiety attacks that I was that close to an attempt again. I was pretty desperate to find a way to pay my tuition, do the experimental part of my thesis in the kitchen, study for the mock boards through online lectures, pass my grad requirements, and explain to my mom how I blew up the microwave ;;-;;
On June, 2nd week, I think. I found this site and in all honesty, I couldn't be more thankful for being such a weab and a bored potato. I found a place to voice out my thoughts, meet interesting people, learn culture, food and beliefs and actually expand what I already knew about crypto and a few things about trading that I may have forgotten already. Aside from that, it really helped a lot. I managed to save a bit from here. By September, I was helping pay the bills with my earnings here, also I could take care of the dog's needs so that it wouldn't eat up that much of the house's budget.
Now that I'm working, I can save up again and now I actually have funds to hodl and maybe soon I can expand my crypto profile but for now I'm still learning the charts. Lucky my chemistry background showed data in nothing but charts so chart reading really is coming in handy here and most of my trend predictions come close at least.
This 2021, I started off hodling 10$ in my bitcoin.com wallet. So the goal (I rarely set goals for myself so this is really big for me tbh) for this year is to at least save 100$ in crypto every month. As of now it's at 15$ because I'm that bored and I can keep an eye on the charts for the mean time.
It's honestly so exciting to be able to watch it grow like this. Hopefully this 2021 would be good to me and to all of us. I hope there's no more cancellation of major exams because the struggle to find a proper paying job for unlicensed chemists is just too much. Here in my country, experience doesn't matter. All that matters is you have the license and that you come from a branded school. The boomers that are still at the head of the management are making things harder for us.
Aaaanyways- before I go into rant mode again from my job, I should stop here. I want to greet 2021 with good vibes and a healthy kind of motivation. May 2021 provide us with more opportunities! the year of the metal Ox is upon us, the year for breaking away and for new beginnings as my partly Chinese grandmother told us as the new year came.
01-01-21 https://read.cash/@Hanzell
Food additives: Sodium borate
It’s been awhile since I last posted about chemistry stuff so I thought I’d give it a go again. Today I’d like to introduce you to Sodium borate or Borax (Na2B4O7·10H2O). It’s a white powder in normal state and in most cases, it’s used as a cleaning material like detergents. Currently, it’s deemed as a “green agent” and is a replacement for a number of materials like soaps, shampoos and other cleaning products.
But other than being a cleaning material, it’s also widely used in other sectors of the industry like as a potent insecticide also as a way to kill weeds surrounding your crops. It’s also an emulsifying agent in make up.
In the medical field it’s used as an anti-fungal and a selective antimicrobial agent to a few microbes and sometimes it’s used in synthesis to produce boron derivative products like boric acid.
But then did you know they get into your food too?
So I saw that it’s a material used in some multivitamins but I’m not sure which ones those are. But besides being used in vitamins, I took note of the fact that this specific compound is commonly used as an ingredient in some noodles. Yes, that’s right. One of the most common comfort foods could possibly have borax. Fortunately while I was working in a food testing lab, the noodles here in the Philippines did not test positive for the presence of borax but I’m not sure with the other countries. Aside from noodles, fish crackers also sometimes test positive for the presence of borax. It bothered me because I love those
Why is it used as an ingredient?
Simply because it’s an antimicrobial agent. It’s basically used as a preservative so that the noodles have longer shelf life while at the same time, it has that crunchy texture that imitates the frying process that’s common practice for noodles in the Philippines. (This is actually the common way to process commercial noodles here and is used by bi g companies like lucky me and nissin so they're safe if you got bothered by my article, if you’re curious: **https://read.cash/@Xzeon/vegetable-noodle-making-ed86c9ab**). This may be mean but I just want you guys to be healthy.
As much as there’s really no official statement of the toxicity of borax, plus the limited journals I could find, it’s still best to stay away from them beacuse
**Borax can:**
**Cause irritation**
When in the cosmetic use but even when used as a hygiene product, the chances of getting irritation is high
**Cause hormone problems**
based on this study [http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/29620610R] of using borax with pest control and how it affected the rats’ testes through atrophy or shrinking. Also in how it reduced ovum count in female rats
**Have high toxicity**
Well the hormone problem is already self explanatory but then it can also do some organ damage, specifically in the urinary tract since borax is still a water-soluble salt, thus it will still get taken to the kidneys.
In worse cases though, **it can cause death**
if taken in excessive amounts, one can experience severe vomiting, diarrhea, shock and eventually death if not remedied immediately
Hide from the fog 3
Chapter 1 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/hide-from-the-fog-1e5076cd
**Chapter 2** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/hide-from-the-fog-2-b7bed63b
When I finally came to, the first thing I heard were shackles. The cold, metal shackles that bound my wrists and ankles to the very same stone table where I saw the woman was before she transformed.
“Off with the suit!!” it was the creepy fake lord of the land that commanded the town folks and in a flash, knives, blades and even pitchforks came swooping in, ready to tear the plastic-like suit off my body. It was to my surprise when none of the sharp objects could pierce through. We all blinked in disbelief. Even pulling off the helmet and the gloves nor boots was no use. At the very forefront of my mind, I was damn grateful for having listened to that old wizard who was selling out his stuff but now the problem was how to escape...
“How will he return to his form if his suit is impenetrable?” Murmurs and whispers came from the crowd. The same thought came rushing into their heads.
“I will remove the suit!!” I screamed out so as to get their attention “I’ll remove the suit. Just remove the restraints” I was hoping my negotiation would work but instead, more murmurs and whispers were raised from the sea of people. They didn’t seem to trust me at all.
The fake lord looked to my direction and with such hesitation in his gaze. I assured him that I would not escape. It took a while but he reluctantly nodded and ordered the people to remove the restraints.
As soon as the metal was off, I sat up and first kicked off the boots, then the gloves then proceeded to remove the suit. I squirmed out of it. For a moment, the crowd grew silent and I was pretty nervous with the things I had strapped onto my body prior to having put on the suit. I was met with wide eyes and shocked expressions as I got off the table and began walking to the direction of the town.
Again, I was thankful for that wizard and now, the captain who told me one last thing before getting off the boat. And that these folks were unholy creatures. The bottles of holy water that I had strapped to my waist in addition to the blessed crucifix definitely was a huge help. Of course I still kept the helmet on. I don’t dare inhale the air here without any form of filter but I was finally making actual progress with this quest.
I rushed to my room and took out the small bombs I had made. I took the bottles that hung from my belt and tied it to each bomb. After having done so, I threw one from the window.
One.. two.. three. And boom it went off, leaving behind a mist of holy water.
From the surrounding area, I could hear pained screams and screeches as people toppled over and paused what they had been doing. It was my chance. I ran out of the building, leaving behind bombs every few hundred meters, leaving behind a number of people who keeled over from the pain. The sight was chilling. Flesh melted as soon as they made contact with the holy water that was now turned to mist. Holy mist?
I continued until I reached the center of the forest where the stone table stood. And there I dropped the most powerful bomb I had created and even attached the highest grade of holy water I had with me. The kind so potent that it could dispel any curse with ease.
I left it on the table then made a run for it before it exploded. I hid behind the nearest tree but I never expected that the shock wave from the explosion would be so powerful that it could knock over so many trees. I peered out the tree that had now been rooted and gazed at the damage I had caused.
The crater left behind was nothing short from impressive but my task was not yet over. I dragged myself to the center and raised my crucifix. There I prayed wholeheartedly the prayer the captain had given me before.
A blinding light came from the crucifix and to my surprise, an image appeared before it. There, a gigantic knight appeared. I wasn’t sure what it had been looking at but it had slashed its mace around the forest. No tree was cut yet I could hear the screams of agony as it had finished its attack and withdrew back within the crucifix. I made my way back to the town but I barely managed a few steps before I succumbed to exhaustion.
By the time I had awoken, I was no longer greeted with creepy smiles but instead, with concerned citizens that had apparently stood watch over my side in the 3 days that I was unconscious.
There I learned that the fog were demons that possessed first their minds then their bodies. The stone table was apparently a gate to the underworld that was left behind by the island’s first inhabitants and that having broken it, they were freed from the curse of the demons. It was chilling listening to their tale but it was a relief. I saved the island and its inhabitants.
And as I rode back on the captain's ship. I could see the delight on his face as I told him about the town
“I guess I can go back to my wife after this now” relief was evident as he stirred the boat to the direction of the port as quickly as he could so he could go back to see his wife.
Hide from the fog 2
Chapter 1 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/hide-from-the-fog-1e5076cd
That afternoon, I didn’t find anything in the forest and the suit wasn’t any help, honestly. The plastic like suit made going up steep cliffs far more challenging than it should be. I couldn’t allow myself to stay by evening so as the sun started to sink, I opted to head back to my room where I would again lie in wait for the town’s folks actions.
As soon as I got back to my quarters, I jumped straight to bed and rested. I had to be fully awake later.
Again, I was clueless of the time but I awoke to the sounds of groans and growls that came outside but this time, I would not just sit by idly to watch,I would be making a move as they went into the forest again tonight.
They went in scattered but after some time of tailing them, we came to what seemed like the center of the forest. The area I didn’t have enough time to explore. I needed a better view so I opted to climb up one of the nearby trees which allowed me to get a better view of what was happening. My eyes weren’t ready for what I was about to see. In the center of the crowd was what appeared to be a stone table. I wasn’t sure where it came from but there was someone strapped down to it. A woman. And unlike the creatures that surrounded her, she was screaming at the top of her longs, struggling to remove the constraints on her wrists and ankles. It was as if she was an offering. An offering but to what? To whom? I could do nothing but watch and wait.
After what seemed like hours, I could see fog begin to gather by the creatures’ feet and I couldn’t tell what was more frightening, the unified chanting of some incantation, the painted figure that stood before the stone table, or the fact that the fog took the shape of one of the creatures.
What exactly was the fog was the question that ran through my head as I jumped from branch to branch, hoping to get a better view of this fog creature
“Now that the true lord of the land is here, we shall now begin our ritual!” The painted figure spoke as he raised a staff with so many charms attached to it. The next thing I knew, the creatures were all beginning to sway along with their unified chanting; some even raised some sorts of items in the air. I wasn’t really sure what it was for but the cries of the woman bound to the table became louder, more pained. It was indeed chilling.
Her transformation was taking place. Her skin grew cracked, it darkened and spikes and claws began to emerge. The crowd was cheering as her bones began to crack and move on its own, distorting her body in ways unimaginable to humans. That’s when I became more sure of the source of the weird green light and the fact that none of them were humans to begin with.
“Rejoice for she is reborn! She has finally taken to her true form!!!” It was the transformed fog monster that spoke this time. He held up his scepter with one hand as the other slashed off the metal restraints that bound the woman to the table.
Her true form? What were they talking about- I doubt any human's true form was related to monsters? What could they have meant by that??? As I leaned closer, I heard a snap then the breaking of twigs and before I knew it, I was plummeting to the ground head first. There was a loud thud and before everything went black, I only saw deformed feet and hooves and claws then nothing.
chapter 3 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/hide-from-the-fog-3-c56481b7
Still thinking of how to end this, lol but next chapter will be the last one, i swear
Hide from the fog
**[WP] "Over time, folks gettin' swallowed up by the woods just became... normal, y'know? Something that just happened every now n' then. When they started comin' back, though... That was a LOT tougher to get used to, I tell ya."**
Adventurer guilds had always been a hotspot for the craziest quests and it’s always an adventurer’s pleasure to serve and hopefully receive a huge sum from the quests but upon the arrival of this new quest. Every adventurer has avoided it like the plague. As time went by, the rewards grew higher and the risk became higher. The few brave souls that offered their lives for the task never came back.
As a guild rule, if the quests has not been accepted yet remains active in the span of 3 years, it’s either given to the highest ranking member or it’s given to another guild that doesn’t already have an existing request similar to the quest.
It was rather unfortunate that as one of the platinum tagged members, the task was given to me. And now here I am on the only boat to Pryham
“I could be headed to the mountains to look for a dragon horde” I let out a loud sigh out of my obvious dismay
“That be a good ya got there, boy. Only the crazies ever be wantin’ to go up against them critters, ya see” A bearded man approached me and offered me a tobacco roll that i politely declined. I looked ahead and focused on the approaching island
“Mind telling me what goes on in that island, captain?”
He glanced at me then back at the island in question as he exhaled a puff of smoke “Some really creepy things. Best it be abandoned but the nutty folks all be waitin for the ones that went missin”
“What do mean by the ones that went missing? I mean, I need to know if I’m hired for the job”
‘Ya make a fair point, lad. Ya see, some weird mist came here outta nowhere one day. Sure it’s an island but that fog was just funky, y’know” He took another drag of smoke and exhaled moments later “T’was painful. Even lost me dear wife in that fog. They were all called to the forest, they said. But I dunno bout that”
“You think the fog came from the forest somehow?”
He shook his head and propped himself up over the ship’s railing, leaning forward a bit “Dunno. But people just disappeared one day. T’was crazy as hell. Over time, folks gettin' swallowed up by the woods just became... normal, y'know? Something that just happened every now n' then. When they started comin' back, though... That was a LOT tougher to get used to, I tell ya."
I was about to ask more when the horns sounded and my attention was immediately diverted to the source of the noise.
“And one more thing, boy’o! Make sure ya dun go out without that suit ya got packed in that bag o’ yers. No matter what”
I could only nod as the crew guided me down the ladder where a boat was waiting for me below it. Apparently that captain doesn’t enjoy going near the island anymore. What was up with when the townsfolk came back. Shouldn’t they have been happy?
“Are you the adventurer, Liam, sir?” The man rowing the boat asked with such a creepy wide smile and such lifeless eyes. I suddenly remembered the suit
“Ye-yeah, that’s me” I tried to smile as wide as I could before I hurriedly slipped into the white suit I had bought off some merchant. It would protect me, he said. It made me feel ridiculous but as we boarded off the boat and made our way to town. I could see the same creepy smiles everywhere. Something was definitely messed up here. I could only do my best to smile like they did so as to avoid further questioning about my suit. I was escorted to the town hall where I was greeted with the lord of the land. There he told me exactly the same thing the captain did except this time instead of telling me to keep on the suit, he kept urging me to remove it.
Scared definitely was what I should be feeling but coming back to the guild a coward didn’t seem an option either after having already arrived at the island already. But I suspect that even the lord has been exposed to that fog the captain was talking about.
I didn’t consume anything they had offered that day and asked to retire to the prepared chambers early, claiming that I was tired from such a long journey. Luckily they permitted me and were left to my thoughts until the next day. My simple wish was too much to ask, apparently.
I wasn’t sure when exactly it was but after the clock had passed midnight, disturbing noises could be heard from outside. Bones seemed to crack, pained moans and groans of and after a while, it was followed by growls and dialects which were not of this world. I was hoping I could keep my curiosity at bay but the sound of booming drums echoing from outside made me peer out of the window.
The first thing that greeted me was the deformed figure of what could presumably be the town’s folks and it looked as if they had started a procession of sorts seeing as they were all forming a line, and slowly they marched into the forest. As more people disappeared behind the woodlands, a strange glow emerged from the tree and I just simply watched from the safety of my room. At around 5am, one by one they returned to their own homes, all having that creepy smile plastered across their faces. What exactly happened, I’ll need to ask around when the people would be outside again but for now I need sleep. I barely got any sleep that night but I uncovered
I woke up at high noon and ate from the rations I had brought along with me. I didn’t trust what touched the fog and that included food. As much as it would have been a pleasure to have tasted unusual cuisine but now wasn’t the time. I made my way into the forest and there I began my exploration in hopes of finding clues on what I needed to do here. So far, the only facts I was sure of was that
These people aren’t people anymore
They’re darn good at avoiding questions when asked. And
I need to get out of here as soon as I can because these people creep the hell out of me.
Chapter 2 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/hide-from-the-fog-2-b7bed63b
Couldn't resist- the prompt Idea was so good, I wanted to milk it as best as could
Nobody Believed
[WP] He stood next to the kid watching as black tentacles reached out at them from the slime. The boy gripped his hand harder and asked the therapist "Now do you believe the nightmares have come true?"
In all my years as a child psychiatrist, I was often called in to meet parents and at times, even orphanage heads about concerns with children. It was always the same, depression, anxiety, some dissociative personality disorders, some ADHD and dyslexia sometimes but never was I given a case like this.
The child was Jacob. Jacob Bruno. He was a 6 year old that, according to the orphanage head, had refused to sleep. Whenever they would clean his belongings, they would always find all sorts of things. At first they were just energy drinks and coffee. The highly caffeinated stuff but as it progressed, they started finding more and more unusual things like knives, forks. A lot of sharp objects.
But what was more disturbing was that it coincided with the disappearance of some children from the orphanage. No traces were left but they were all suspecting that it was his doing. Although no substantial proof could be presented, the child was soon separated from the other children.
“Hey Jacob. My name is Dr. Phillips” I ushered him to sit on the long seats that most of the kids seemed to love. And he did as well as I watched him make himself comfortable on the plush seating. “So I heard you don’t like sleeping? Why is that?” I had taken a seat beside him and offered him a lollipop
“I just don’t” He still took the lollipop then eagerly put it in his mouth. Must’ve been deprived of sweets in the orphanage.
“Hmm.. then do you not like your room that much?”
He answered with a shrug then reached for one of the stuffed octopus that was on the floor “It’s okay? I think? Because some of the kids hug me when I get nightmares”
He sounded too innocent to be suspected for murder. There wasn’t even any indication of violent behaviour.
“The other kids went missing though” He was speaking with a frown as he hugged the stuffed toy closer to himself and for a moment, I saw a hint of fear and loneliness in his eyes. I miss them”
“Do you know where they all went maybe?” He shook his head and hid his face with the stuffy. Probably on the verge of tears “How about staying with me for now? I don’t really have a housemate and you need a change of pace”
I tried to sneak a peek at his face as I lowered the stuffy a bit but I was greeted with tear-filled eyes that looked at me expectantly
“Are you sure about that, doctor? You might get in trouble”
“I’ll be fine. I can tell the head that we’re just having a sleepover later. Is that okay with you?” Again, I was answered with a nod “You can keep Octy if you want. He’s been wanting to be someone’s friend for awhile now.
He stayed with me at the office until 5p.m. then I took him to my apartment where I lent him my bed while I decided to take the sofa. The kid needed somewhere comfy. At 8p.m., as per the orphanage head’s instructions, I sent him to bed with a glass of warm milk.
It was around 9p.m. whenI heard some noise from the kitchen and there I saw him sneaking around with my coffee jar
“Jacob?Weren’t you supposed to be asleep by now?”
He looked at me with wide eyes and slowly shook his head “I don’t want to sleep, doctor” his voice sounded weak, almost begging as he took hold of the hem of my shirt and kept close to me.
“You’re still growing, you need to sleep” It was getting late and I wasn’t sure I wanted to be scolded when they picked him up the next day so I did what I thought was fitting. I gave him half a dose of sleeping aids in the guise of candy. As much as I had felt bad doing so, the kid looked horrible and he really needed sleep. With the last bit of consciousness, he was begging “Body no, please don’t fall asleep” he would slap his cheeks and even pinch his arms “ The nightmares will come back-” And with that, he had managed to fall asleep on the couch. I carried him to the bed and tucked him in.
Until 11p.m. It was silent and I was hoping I would fall asleep soon, that was until I felt my couch sinking and some wet thing was touching my toes. It was black slime- I immediately leapt out the bed and bolted right to my bedroom were Jacob was in the corner, eye closed tightly as he kept the blanket wrapped around his body securely
“Doctor! The slime is alive!”
I rushed to his side and held onto his hand, hushing him as I watched the slime come closer. It stopped at the door but I had just hoped that it continued moving instead. The black tentacles that were reaching for us were far more terrifying than the black mass on the ground.
“Now do you believe me.. The nightmares have come true. And we’re next”
“We need to escape!” I looked out the window and the view from the 2nd story looked all too harsh for a child to jump from.
“But how-”
The black tentacles had gotten to us.
`According to an Orphanage caretaker, who was just picking up the child in her custody. The psychiatrist Anthony Phillips and the child, Jacob Bruno. Were already dead by the time she had arrived at the apartment. Cause of death: Arrhythmic Death Syndrome`
Destined
**[WP] After a child is born, a symbol of the child’s power will materialize on their forehead, disappearing after a few seconds. How long it takes for the symbol to show has a direct correlation with the extent of the child’s power, the longer it takes, the more potent the power.**
It was the 1st day of January, year 20XX. Magic and technology have been incorporated into each other that it has become inseparable. People still relied on their magic, however and even in the onset of a more advanced civilization, people still believed in old prophecies passed down since the founding of their civilization. They had to. The throne had been abandoned for so long that their world was now falling into chaos.
“We’re under attack!!!” The leader of the revolutionists all but shouted as Ice came rising from the ground and some booming explosions caused such powerful shockwaves that some buildings became reduced to rubble in a matter of minutes.
“We won’t make it” His wife had been having a hard time keeping up with the move. She was already in labor and was in no condition to even move. Each quake of the earth made her worry. Will the protective barrier her husband put up last long enough for their child to be delivered.
“We will! Even at the cost of my own life!” He was on the lookout, making sure to reinforce the barrier whilst helping with the attacks every now and then. He was thankful for magical weapons else his mana would have been depleted with just the barrier.
In the midst of the madness, a child was born. In such a magic fueled world, Magical capabilities will always determine a child’s future. The stronger they are, the more they are sought for, and in such rare cases, they become the next ruler. As for what their child would become, they can only tell as time comes.
The look of relief and pain was evident on his wife’s face as she held their now crying babe. It was a boy. A healthy baby boy whose forehead was marked with a symbol unknown to them. It was probable that it was a new class of magic that was created for war but what was unusual was that the mark never faded.
In all their cases, the mark would eventually fade but that was not the case for the boy. Not only was he marked differently but what was more shocking was the magical extent of the child.
When it would fade would be the question the parents would need to know as soon as possible.
The child was named Ezekiel. And for the entirety of his life, all he knew was war. War and the belief of the revolutionists. He grew to the teachings of his parents and also hoped for a fairer treatment of those with lesser magical capabilities than the so called elitist who wanted to rule the world in replacement of a formal ruler. The rulers were powerful, yes. As for their marks he only heard that some lost their marks when they were older but never did the mark stay after their 20th year of life, thus the extent of their capabilities. He was 19 and it was almost concerning.
“Make sure you come back after this mission, Ezekiel. And keep your mark covered!” His mother told him sternly as he rushed off into the tunnels. The tunnels were their only way into the capital. Revolutionists were executed in public because of the damn elitists thinking they could just get away with anything thus why the tunnels were their only way around without being seen.
“Which way is it? Ezek?”A young girl asked, Jana, her best friend.
“This way, make sure you don’t fall into the water, it can melt you” He glanced at the smoking water that must have been infused with some sort of acid from the elitist dogs.
“So the plan is a sneak attack on the castle?” He nodded then flashed his lamp on one of the gratings that blocked their path. One which she melted with her heat magic
“And hopefully to make it home for my birthday” He flashed her a cheeky smile before going ahead into the next tunnel.
An hour until midnight. Nobody was even awake at this time. It was the golden hour of their attack.
After melting the next layer of steel gratings, they were in the palace interior. Somewhere in the gardens. They had hoped their spies were more accurate with their map making but they went with what they had, and right now, coming out from the garden was the best thing they could do.
They went to set up the equipment as Ezekiel signalled the rest of the troop to follow from the tunnels. Within a matter of minutes, the guys came in one by one and positioned themselves as they had practiced countless times before.
“One… Two… Three!!!” At the count of three, fireballs and icicles poured from the sky and came crashing through the castle walls.
The few guards on duty were wiped and the back up would take a while to arrive. It was their chance to advance into units. Each unit consisted of at least 4 protector class. They needed the protective barriers to be as strong as possible but also they functioned magnificently as healers. They also had 6 offensive class which of course, was the heart of the attack.
“Scatter and destroy!” That was the order Ezekiel gave as the current commanding officer before joining in and scattering with a unit of his own but their goal was different. It was his unit’s mission to claim the throne.
The revolutionists who had just fought to survive were given a newfound hope when the mark on Ezekiel’s forehead had not disappeared after almost 20 years since his birth. It was believed that the previous ruler who had caused the chaos carried the same fate. And if the mark were to disappear as soon as the clock struck 12, then they had at least managed to fight back against the elitist that had relentlessly raged war against them.
5 minutes until midnight and the throne room was still nowhere to be found. The unit had planned to separate into pairs to make the search faster but in an instant, the ground quaked and they were thrown against the wall.
Ezekiel looked at the caster and was fairly surprised to see a teen was their attacker. But she put her attack to a halt when she saw the mark that was on Ezekiel’s head.
“You- how old are you!” But before he could even reply, the clang of the grand clock resounded everywhere
“20.” With a smug smirk, he got up to his feet and walked up to the teen
“I- I’m so sorry for attacking, your highness! I was merely doing what was ordered by the people in charge” She was about to get down on her knees and offer a bow but he had caught her by the arm
“I’d like you to lead me to the throne room instead of bowing, young miss” She frantically nodded then scurried ahead where she paved a new path for them with her magic
On his 20th birthday, Ezekiel had been given the best gift he could have hoped for. A kingdom to rule and hopefully his ruling would be a prosperous one where he could fulfill the wishes of the revolution and his parents. The mark never disappeared and he finally found out that his magic was unique. That the mark he had was the mark of wisdom needed to rule for the rest of his lifetime.
Colored 6
**Chapter 1** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/colored-92f0c10c
**Chapter 2** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/colored-2-f1552c60
**Chapter 3** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/colored-3-50b5d975
Chapter 4 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/colored-4-dd8adbcf
Chapter 5 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/colored-5-48fff095
The very next morning, the two woke snuggled in each other’s arms yet for Linda, It was the strangest morning she’s ever had. Her head pounded and she was in the arms of the man she had been looking for for how many days now yet strangely, being in his hold felt more like home than anywhere else she’s ever been before.
She watched as Jean slept peacefully, his arms wrapped securely around her petite frame and each time she would move, it seemed as though his arms would tighten around her, keeping her in place. It was a strange sensation yet she enjoyed it so, knowing that she belonged somewhere.
The sun was already high when Jean finally woke from his slumber. He rubbed his eyes and looked at his surroundings. It took a while before it finally dawned on him that this wasn’t his dorm and that he was in Linda’s apartment still. Instead of being startled though, he just flashed her a sleepy smile. “I hadn’t slept that peaceful in all my years here in Paris”
“It’s an honor to have provided you with quality sleep” Linda replied cheekily as she snuggled up more into his frame
“I missed work” his smile soon faded yet he didn’t bother getting up, he instead treaded his large digits through her hair, caressing the silken locks to which he was given a hum of approval.
“Tell them you got sick then, and just give yourself a break. It wouldn't hurt to go on one every now and then”
“Hm..but i won’t be able to afford my meals for the day if I don’t work.”
“I’ll get you food. As thanks for taking me home and…” She gazed up at him, a bashful expression on her features as she mumbled the last part of her sentence “For staying with me..”
Jean merely laughed it off before agreeing, pretending he didn’t hear what she had said to spare her from her own embarrassment.
The two continued to stay in bed until their stomachs finally spoke for their state of hunger
“I think it’s about time to get something to eat.” It was Jean who first made notice of the sounds but at that point, he was pretty sure that it wasn’t just his stomach that was audible now but hers as well
“There’s a small cafe just a few steps from here, they have excellent croissants and coffee” Linda sat up and stretched a bit before tugging Jean by the arm to help him sit up.
Neither bothered to fix their appearances nor even get properly dressed, they went as is and seated themselves by a large window in that cafe ‘cheap but delicious’ was how Linda described the food while on their way there. And he couldn’t agree more when he took the very first spoonful of cassoulet
“This tastes much better than the ones our chefs made when I was younger” a soft satisfied hum escaped her as she tore off a piece of the croissant and munched on it “All the foods here are delicious”
“Hmm… so the artist Linda who has a hard time getting bookings and selling pieces now was a snotty rich girl who used to have chefs and maids at her beck and call” He teased before picking up his cup of coffee, examining it before taking a small sip
“I wasn’t snotty. But my family was rich. They wanted to marry me off to some old pervert that would make the business grow since I’m not a man and all, can’t take over the business” She said on a bitter tone before popping a piece of the soft pastry into her mouth
“So what, you ran away? Where did the art come from then?”
She raised a brow then gazed out the window as she spoke “I was taught to. I was taught everything I needed to know about being the wife of a rich man but never how to live as my own or how to survive in the world. It was hard to survive in Paris alone”
“Feels like knowing something is better than knowing nothing. A country bumpkin like me had it harder than you probably ever will. I don’t even know if I have talents. But I wanted to write. I learned how to write when I got to Paris”
They continued to eat in silence but unlike before, this time it felt like they had a better understanding of each other. As if a wall had finally been broken
Once they finished, they decided to part ways for the meantime. Jean couldn’t always be at her house and he had hoped to at least make it to his job at the publishing house
“Linda, will you be at the pub tonight?”
“I will. I have to showcase some of my paintings as promised, remember?” and with that, she turned on her heel and headed back to her apartment, leaving Jean to wonder what she would be up to.
A not so merry Christmas
Hey! So I don't write about my life these days again because it's nothing extraordinary now. Anyways I want to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and I do hope you guys enjoy your holidays 😊😊😊😊
My holidays are way too quiet this year and honestly we didn't even busy ourselves with food prep unlike in the previous years. This year we just had a simple dinner. Barbeque, vegetables and a really yummy dessert cake but other than that, it was a not so Merry Christmas this year but my sisters enjoyed the presents I got them so it was well worth it! My dogs also got treats as presents and now they have a full month supply of treats!
On a side note, I also adopted a new pup! His name is Cosa and he's a rejected K-9 pup. He was too nice that he instead became a therapy dog for the inmates, it wasn't good for the training so my friend in the police dept offered him to me and I accepted
I'm not sure what kind of pitbull he is but he's a very cuddly one too, like my other dogs. He's the only one who seems to be enjoying the holidays because he has a new toy
Most of the time, he pulls on my shirt sleeves to pull me back inside the house because he hates it when I leave the house yet he's the one that pushes me off the bed the most when he wants to go out to pee or when he's asking for water. He's only 4 months old. Arrived at my place a month ago and now it just feels like he's been family for a long time now.
This is him with Max 😊 they're the ones that get along best, probably because they're both big dogs or maybe they're just both hyper outside dogs? I'm not sure but they sure do play a lot and it's just fun to watch because recently they've been trying to compete for my attention and a spot on the bed.
Right now, there's 4 babies trying to steal my bed. And I thought 3 was a handful 😭😭😭 and at around 5:30 to some time until 6, they try to wake me in every way possible just to tell me that they need to pee and get watee. I think I spoiled them too much already but at least they're all happy babies
This is from our morning walk ;;-;;
Oh- and my new struggle now is bath time because they all hate the cold water!!! Feels like I fought a war every time it's bath time
He'll come back
I'm on break lol and I had time to edit from my drafts OwO but I'm not wven making a dent in my notifs but oh well
[WP] She sat on the old, wooden bench like she did everyday... waiting for him to come back. He had promised to come back.
She’s been there for as long as I could remember. Since my childhood, this lady had sat there on that very bench. I wasn’t sure since when she had started sitting there but never did a day pass without having to see her there on that very wooden bench.
Even now, as I near my 24th birthday, I still see her but compared to before, now she comes with a bag of crumbs or old bread that are to be fed to the pigeons that have now become her companions. At times I would find her with some cans of animal feed and she opens them whenever she sees the stray cats and dogs start to approach her. I always wondered why she offered nothing for a human companion or if she ever had any to begin with. It wasn’t that she looked crazy, on the contrary, she always came clean and rather presentable. Always dress in what I presumed could be called her best clothes. Always with those classic 80s style pencil skirts, a cardigan then some thick coat now to protect herself from the cold.
------
On such a day that I had thought would be my most unfortunate one yet, I decided to go for a stroll in the park near my house, the very one she had always gone to then maybe on a whim, I asked her why she always sat on this old wooden bench and if she did not have any form of companion
“You see, dearie. I’m still waiting for him to come back. My guardian angel”
“Your guardian angel? You mean a beloved that promised to protect you” I was curious to hear people nowadays speak of guardian angels when the thought had long perished, but with a shake of her and a soft chuckle, she simply went on with her train of thoughts.
“He was a real guardian angel. One whose wings were much larger than his body was. The feathers seemed so soft and white as snow and he definitely looked inhuman to me when we first met.”
“Where did you meet?” She was definitely catching my attention with her words. It wasn’t every day that I would hear one speak of angels like they had actually seen one, and if she did, maybe she would be able to confirm my questions about the creatures
“The first time was whenI was in my 20s... “ She placed her hand on her temple, creasing the wrinkles a bit as she seemed as though she was remembering the details “When I ran away from my marriage. He was the one who told me what to do without having to harm anyone else. You see, the man I was wed to was an evil man. And so many times he would beat me. The angel freed me. He helped me escape and told me where to run away to.”
To me it sounded like some typical story of a poor wife but I continued to listen to her story
“When I arrived at the place he told me to go to, he said he was waiting for me since I was reincarnated, can you believe that?” Amusement showed on her features and she chuckled a bit as she gazed sadly at the tree standing just across the old bench.
“You must have been his beloved in each lifetime you had”
“He said the same thing too. Quite the sweet talker for an angel, really but I could feel the truth in his words. Anyways, from there on, he helped me establish a new home here”
“Wait, here?In this town?”
She nodded then pointed to the quaint, white house that could be seen from the park entrance. “He tried to live as a human for as long as he could.” Her voice grew weak, as if she was saddened by something
“What happened to the angel though?”
“He was killed”
Shock was all I felt in that moment and I looked at her, she seemed to be on the verge of tears.
“It seemed the man I was wed to… he was a demon. One night when we were walking through this park, he appeared” She was gripping onto the hem of her cardigan, maybe to fight back the tears, maybe to calm herself “He was furious that I left him for an angel. They fought but no one won. They both died”
She reached for her pocket, pulling out a white handkerchief but something peculiar caught my eye and it was the large white feather that fell from her pocket. I leaned down to pick it up as she busied herself with drying her tears. Just as I made contact with the feather, fragments of memory came flooding into my head. Of whose, I couldn’t tell whose memory it was but I saw the lady. In this lifetime and in so many other lifetimes before this one.
“We both died, me and that demon first husband of yours. But I gave you this so you could find me again” I twirled the feather in my hands, gazing at it intently “And you even waited for me for so long.I’m so sorry, my love”
Her tears came pouring down harder. The lady was sobbing and I couldn’t do anything but to pull her into my embrace in the hopes of calming her down
“You finally remembered me… It took you a good 20 years.” She teased as her hold on me tightened
“I’m sorry, this was the divine punishment I received as soon as the Gods heard of what I did. You will always be beautiful to me.Those 20 years are nothing”
She had finally calmed down after a while and I let go of her but not completely. I couldn’t hold onto her frame properly in this body but I could still hold her hand like the countless times that we’ve done. Our next concern would be how to tell the boy’s parents that I intend to marry her this time around. Something I wasn’t allowed to do in my previous life as a divine being.
-----
Will hope to draw otw home later but if I can't then oh well
Reaper Ch. 9
**Chapter 1** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/reaper-ch1-3c82986a
**Chapter 2** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/reaper-ch-2-2d725629
**Chapter 3** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/reaper-ch-3-c61abf05
**Chapter 4** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/reaper-ch-4-157ead3b
**Chapter 5** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/reaper-ch-5-b4c10cf4
Chapter 6 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/reaper-ch6-bbc18cc7
Chapter 7 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/reaper-ch7-1f18b414
Chapter 8 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/reaper-ch-8-3fc8bdbe
**Chapter 9**
**[Prompt] There is more than just one Grim reaper- there is the sorrowful reaper, the envious reaper, so on and so forth- one for each emotion behind the death. You were chosen to take over one of the reaper roles… Welcome to day one as the Puzzled reaper.**
After having finished giving the twins their respective dosages of the anesthesia, I carried Nina in my arms and used her hand and eyes for the fingerprint and retinal scanner before placing her back on the bed. I turned to face them one more time, leaving behind an ace of heart card with the word alice written in between. I gazed at their forms one last time before I descended down the elevator which they rode down to their lab.
It was exactly how I’d seen it on cam and if I remember correctly, the laser just beyond that door.
As I approached, another vision came. It was the area 51 guys who came to check on the laser in the twins’ absence on their trial day. From that, I was sure, this contraption can’t be left like this. It’s better that it gets destroyed now than to have it destroy the entire town. On one side of the wall, I saw blueprints,plans and even a few notes all neatly arranged based on their previous trials. The kids truly were geniuses. Among the scribbled notes, I found one that was rather different
Finish this to save mom and dad
Mom and dad? Their parents? All they wanted to save the precious people in their lives. My hunch in the end was correct. They were like me, whose talents were abused by the wrong set of people, yet for them, there was even a threat. It had me wondering just how much they had rebelled before agreeing but I guess I’ll never get to ask.
I took a look at the blueprints one last time then went on to disassemble the laser before me.
After a few hours, I reached the core of the machine. The part that carried its plutonium core. The material responsible for what would be the largest explosion since Hiroshima.
As I was dismantling its container, a part of the glass cracked. It started off with just a small one. The next thing I knew, the crack was spreading. Panicked, I checked back on the blueprints. I didn’t notice.
The container could only hold the magnetic field that kept the plutonium from emitting such strong radiation and it was the very mechanism that was keeping it from coming into contact with any surface. What have I done.
I glanced back at Laser and I could see the cracks on the glass, it got worse. The container was gonna break! The plutoni-
A blinding light surrounded me and the next thing I knew, I was at the center of this peculiar room, surrounded by hooded figures that did nothing but murmur.
“Silence.” It was the largest one that spoke. The one that wore such a dark tattered cloak and carried with him a scythe much larger than them and at a glance, one can tell that the blade was definitely sharp enough to cut with even just a glance “We have gathered here to discuss the proceedings of what to do with this soul.”
“He deserves to be sent to the depths of hell” Another figure spoke, one that wore a blue robe. The kind of blue seemed as sorrowful as the night sky. In its hand was a knife
“Despite all the death this man has caused, you can’t deny that he had saved more lives with the choices he’s made” Again, the black hooded figure spoke
“Then make him a reaper if he’s that special” This time, it was a green hooded figure that spoke.This one had an axe whose handle had a snake wrapped around it
The notion caused an uproar amongst the rest of the crowd. A number of them had agreed, stating that he was a better passer of judgement than they were when they had lived whilst the rest were ballistic with the idea. Eventually a vote was held. A number of them voted for his reaper-hood
And so it was agreed upon that he would be turned to a reaper.
“Child, tell me. What was it that you last felt as you died”
I stared blankly at him for what seemed like an eternity. My death hasn’t even processed in my head, my reaper-hood, and now he asks me such a ridiculous question. Even Satan made better company than this guy ever will.
It seems like you’re still puzzled by the turn of events. The puzzled reaper you will be. Hopefully you will continue to pass judgement unto others as you have in your human life. And for that, I will give you these bombs which will serve as your scythe.”
“Wai- I still don’t understa--” Without even being able to decline nor say anything about his judgement, he was whisked away in a blur of smoke. As to where? It was to the next person he had to pass judgement on.
---------
A not so satisfying ending but ayyyeee It's finally done and now I need to draw more soon.
Colored 5
I'll fix the links another time. Maybe on thursday? But for now. I only have writings
**Chapter 1** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/colored-92f0c10c
**Chapter 2** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/colored-2-f1552c60
**Chapter 3** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/colored-3-50b5d975
Chapter 4 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/colored-4-dd8adbcf
Their regular meetups seemed to have come to a halt after that eventful night of confessions and as much as Linda had wanted to just go to his dorm and ask why, she had thought better and decided that Jean needed a break from her. Even after a week had passed, nothing. It was like he was trying to erase his existence from her life entirely. He was never at the dorm, nor was he found on the streets selling papers and she was unaware of where that publishing house was that he was working for. No trace at all.
At night she would make it a point to go to the pub in hopes of seeing the familiar figure on the piano but recently, she would just be there to drink and to just mindlessly watch people, hoping that something would strike her again as Jean did.
“Linda! Linda!” It was the pub owner, she was with her friend, Pierre “We have a proposal for you!” She seemed ecstatic yet Linda simply just offered her best smile to the pair
“What’s this amazing offer you’ve got to give me” She muttered before raising her glass to her lips for another sip of wine
“Well pierre here came up to me the other day and had this most amazing idea ever” She smiled from ear to ear, she seemed excited about the idea whilst Pierre grew bashful with the mention of his name “He thought that the artists that frequent this place could be allowed a bit of space on the walls where they can show off their paintings. It’s free advertising for you then free decorations for me. A win-win or if you wouldn’t mind sharing a percent of the sale, I would be happy to assist in sales talk too”
It was a good idea and if Linda wasn’t so down, she would have applauded the idea and even demanded the biggest space but right now, she could simply nod and say “I’ll bring my paintings when you’ve set up. Sounds good?”
They answered with excited cheers then left her to be, maybe to go on a hunt for more artists they knew that would agree to the idea. Or maybe they just sensed that she had wanted to be alone, either way, she enjoyed the peace.
The night grew darker and Linda sat in her spot until she was told that it was closing time. She had to force herself up and back to her apartment. Outside the Pub, there stood the awfully familiar figure she had been looking for all that time
“You’re dead wasted” Was all he said before he carried her up bridal style and walked her back despite all her protesting and squirming to be freed from his hold “Will you just stay still for a while, we’re almost to your place”
“No!!!! You left me-” She wasn’t even sure if it was the truth or if it was the alcohol speaking at that point after how many bottles of cheap wine she’s had.
Jean grew silent and placed her down once they arrived at her front door “I’m sorry. I just… needed to think”
“Don’t leave anymore” She clung onto his arm, her gaze pleading as she was tugging him into her apartment. He just simply followed.
As they walked into the apartment, he was in shock at how everything was in disarray. The books and paints were scattered, wine bottles everywhere but what stood out the most was the unfinished painting of him. It stayed in place, untouched.
She had waited for him all this time. But when he saw the painting, he noticed something and that it was the eyes. It was always the first thing he noticed in the paintings she showed him. His eyes, they were dark but they always looked more alive than he actually felt. There was something only she could see in him and in all that time. He only realized it now.
His attention turned to Linda who had just climbed on the bed, still tugging him by the arm “Stay with me please…” Her voice seemed so vulnerable in that moment and Jean was hesitating yet he stayed and told her that he would go when she fell asleep. In the end, the night passed by with him watching Linda as she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 6
WIP
Reaper Ch. 8
Took a while but I'm back with a bit of blood lust again
**Chapter 1** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/reaper-ch1-3c82986a
**Chapter 2** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/reaper-ch-2-2d725629
**Chapter 3** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/reaper-ch-3-c61abf05
**Chapter 4** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/reaper-ch-4-157ead3b
**Chapter 5** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/reaper-ch-5-b4c10cf4
Chapter 6 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/reaper-ch6-bbc18cc7
Chapter 7 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/reaper-ch7-1f18b414
**Chapter 8**
**[Prompt]You're a mad scientist, an inventor gone off the rails. Your inventions are odd, and work for the most part but people think you're evil and want to take over the world despite not harming anyone. The truth is that you are just really misunderstood and just want to help**
Some time after the incident with the crazed Tiffany, things seemed to have died down with all the kidnapping on the news. Now people are talking about nothing but the Alice murders and how the murderer was a madman that can't seem to be tracked. If they only knew what was really happening. Aside from that, there was also news of weird weapons coming out of raids and drug busts around town. Frightening weapons they were and upon seeing them, I knew I needed to find the next target soon.
Unfortunately, finding the source fast proved to be impossible. Every guy I caught with the weapon kept saying completely different things and the visions I was getting kept getting worse and worse as the days progressed. The last vision I saw was one that left a giant crater where the town used to be and that wasn't a pretty picture. Just dealing with these petty criminals really wasn't going to go anywhere and the very few intel I could actually ask from the police always lead me to a dead end. It was until I met with twins one night on my shift. It was then that I noticed. They always bought or asked for some pretty unusual stuff that no normal person would buy in such huge quantities and in the ungodly times of the night, I mean, 10 bottles motor lubricant at 3am seems a bit fishy no matter what anybody says.
I was sure that I really needed to check those twins out.
I took an early out on the next shift I had where they walked into the store. Told Carl I needed to go home because I wasn't feeling all too well and that it was probably because of the leftover store stuff that was due for disposal that we kept eating. Luckily the kid bought it and the next thing I knew, I was hot on the the twin's trails. They stopped at this high rise apartment complex, probably a place where the rich guys of this side of town went. It explained a lot.
That entire day, I inspected the perimeter that surrounded the entire building but of course, not without leaving a small spy cam that could monitor the door of the room they entered. It wasn't such a hard task of observing them because they didn't seem to even leave the apartment, even after I had ended my investigation for that day. My next step was to see what went on inside their apartment.
The same routine followed. I awaited their next visit to the convenience store and on the items they bought this time, I placed another camera as small as a button. Hopefully they don't notice anything abnormal.
Inside the apartment, on the surface it didn't seem like anything but a house for huge science fanatics. Large enough to house an entire family too. I wonder where their parents are. Once inside their room though, things began to get odd. The image was starting to receive static yet i could still clearly see the door that was hidden by a large shelf that covered that entire side of the wall. It even had scanners such as retinal and fingerprint scanners. things were really getting fishy from that point on.
The doors opened to what seemed like an elevator and it lead them to what seemed like a laboratory in some unknown part of that apartment complex.
Impressive wasn't enough to describe the facility, that's for sure. It could even compare to government laboratories with all the equipment and instruments present.
"Hey Colt, put that bag down and go check on what's happening to the plutonium" A female voice shot out and so it was that the guy named Colt dropped the bag on one side and put on a white suit before disappearing into some unknown room in that laboratory.
The female kept mumbling to herself as she typed away on this huge surface that had a number of buttons, characters and numbers. It was hard to keep up with the what was happening on her screen with the angle the camera was facing.
Moments later, Colt came back shivering as he removed the suit "Hey Nina, how far are we from finishing this anti-alien invasion laser we're building?"
"Just need to start on the trial run in 72 hours then we can report back to the guys in area 51. Why?" Her gaze never left the screen but I could tell now that she was doing all the programming for this laser they were doing. And what's worse was that the government seemed to be in on it too. This couldn't get any worse. I muttered to myself as I continued to watch the video through the small screen of this compact monitor
I knew I needed to infiltrate their lab asap and there was no other way. I filed a leave of absence that very day then proceeded to the apartment complex the two were residing in. At 2am, nobody would be around while I scaled up the wall to climb up the window of their room on the third floor. There I saw the two figures had fallen asleep together. They looked like any other pair of teenagers at a glance but after knowing what their plans and little science project entailed, there was no other choice.
But the thought of having to give them such a painful death seemed wrong when they might have been aware of the risks or without being told. It was Area 51 after all, who knew what threat they were given when they were young... very much like what happened to me. I couldn't allow that so with a heavy sigh, I took out things from my bag until I found the medical bag I kept. I took out two syringes and the strongest doses of anesthesia I had. I was no anesthesiologist but I was still pretty sure that this would be enough to send them into dreamland forever. I took the risk and plunged the needle into Colt first, then Nina. At first there were pained moans and cries then it was followed by silence.
Dirty minded
I guess a warning is needed because it's on the rated side of the world and I haven't finished my drawing yet :< so I can't continue colored
**[WP] You have the ability to see what's on other people's minds, but that person will see what's on yours as well. It was disappointing at first but as of lately you've been having more fun with it**
Mind reading is real. Although it was pretty rare to be born with such a power in this day and age, there were still some select few. Such was my case. At times I would honestly call it an incomplete ability because I can't seem to find a way to block out other people from my thoughts as I read theirs. It becomes a sort of... communication? If some would put it? Just silent communication between me and the mind I'm trying to read.
I remember the first time I found out about my ability, I tried it out on my sister when I was 5 and she was around 3. Although it wasn't much of a mind reading event but we were both just shocked with the fact that we could hear each other's thoughts until mom knocked and our attention was turned to her. Kids at that age didn't have much amusement to offer. Sure some wanted to be president then some were flying rockets in their heads but besides that, there wasn't really anything interesting and it kind of became practice to shield my own thoughts so they don't see. Sadly it kept failing
The next time I tried to communicate telepathically, it was with my neighbor- now best friend who I often end up silent conversations with now. We both thought it was cool for a few years until puberty hit and his head suddenly got flooded with... rather embarrassing stuff. Although they were considered normal, I kind of went on silent with my ability for a while. Of course I'd use it to cheat my way through some exams I didn't study for but besides that, I tried my best all throughout junior and senior high to not read the minds of the guys outside of exam hours.
I regained my interest in reading minds when I had reached college. Uni students had really fascinating minds. Some of them really thought about really deep things then some were just plain fooling around. I had pretyy much learned that i can't block them from my thoughts but! I can keep my mind blank as long as their thoughts don't particularly interest me. It got fairly easier with age.
Of course a few years in Uni, I learned to be selective of who I tried to come in contact with, specially with parties.
The first time I was invited to an Uni party. The first time I had the most interesting telepathic experience in my life.
She was just seated with her friends on one of those tall stools at the club. Short black cocktail dress that seemed to hug her skin and show off her curves in all the right places. Besides the highly attractive black dress she wore, Of course I noticed the sneaked glances I received every now and then.
At perhaps my fourth bottle of the beer bekng served, I threw my care out the window and decided to catch a glimpse of her thoughts and what I saw may have made things a bit hard.
I had wondered if any girl would think like this but in her head, she was on top of me. Her legs on either side of me and her body was pressed so closely against me. I wonder whose bed it was. She was leaning in so close that I could also imagine that if i moved, our lips would touch.
"You know... this is an interesting thought of yours" I had thought out enough that her figure in that vision of hers sat up and looked around in a panic. "I'd love to do this with you in person too"
"Wait- who are you?!?" Her gaze was now on me. She was really staring at me with wide eyes from across the room and I simply offered a smirk.
"Scared? Don't be... I'd like to see what else you were thinking of doing" Her face had instantly turned red and I was pretty sure it wasn't the alcohol this time but of her own embarrassing thoughts "Come on... There's no need to be shy. I'm Marco, by the way"
I continued to coax her in hopes that she would relax and eventually she did with a few more swigs of her drink.
After a while and a more comfortable pace the figure in her head were a clear image again. This time it wasn't her that was kn top but me
"What are you thinking I would do, Sheila?" Instead of words as a response, she simply showed me how I devoured her lips hungrily as my hands worked on ridding her of all her clothing. Not a bad idea indeed.
Her body was voluptuous and even I would waste no time in having my hands on every inch of her skin. But in her head, it wasn't just my hands caressing the expanse of her fair skin but so did my lips. It started from her necks where she imagined me trailing kisses and even marks of my own down to her bust, stomach and eventually lower.
I gulped, it seemed thay she had such a vivid imagination and my was it getting hotter in the club. I grabbed another bottle. It was probably my sixth but I could care less with how many I've had. I was enjoying the scenes.
After having savored her, It was my turn to get devoured. From that point on, it was her turn to smirk at me and if just that could kill. I would be dead right then and there. Aside from such a seductive smirk in real life, there was also her image of being on her knees while taking my manhood into her mouth, savoring it fully as she bobbed her head along my length.
The frustration was starting to get to me and before I knew it, I found myself striding over to where she and her friends were. And as soon as I came face to face with her, I leaned in and captured her lips in mine
Kissing her as fervently as the image she had mustered in her head. She did nothing to fight for dominance, she just simply melted into the sensation as our tongues intertwined with each other. It lasted probably minutes before I had to pull away upon recalling where we were
"Sorry ladies, I think I'll have to borrow Sheila for tonight" and with that, I carried her bridal style from her seat and carried her out of the club to somewhere we would be continuing that train of thoughts she had.
Project
Just a break because too tired from work and jo energy to draw or sketch or do anything, just wanna lie down and relax
[WP] You’ve just completed your facial recognition software. It puts a box around your face and reads— Species: Human, Age: 25-30. Your quirky friend walks in and it reads— Species: unknown, Age: 1000-2000.
As a computer science major, software development really was a very important part of their studies besides the codes that is, and the logic but what good would knowing those codes be without the application.
Each senior graduating thesis was always done in pairs to avoid conflicts and most of the time, they were assigned to roommates since the university had always made a point to put people in the same programs together in a single floor, or building if needed. And that’s how Chris and James got to be research partners for their final graduation thesis.
If you asked the boys, it wasn’t the worst case scenario since they got along pretty nicely most of the time. Of course some quarrels were inevitable but such is the life of being roommates or so they thought.
For their final research, they had jokingly proposed to create a facial recognition software. They believed it would be a revolutionary joke for their batch but surprisingly their professor approved and now, just a few days before their final presentation and a few sleepless nights later, their software was close to perfection
“Aight james, We just need to do another run and then we’re all good” As Chris was about to relaunch his phone rang and upon seeing the number, he froze and then looked at James “I uh.. Have to take this call” He said as he was on his way out the door.
“Go, if it’s important. I’ll launch and tell you what happens” James nodded then turned the pc camera on. His surroundings flashed on the screen and within moments of the program running, a thin yellow box focused on his face. A few letters soon appeared beside the box and soon specifications appeared beside the face. For James, it read:
Species: Human
Age: 25-30
They definitely needed to fine tune the age identification more if they were gonna use this to figure out a girl’s age, he thought as a mental note.
The software was still running when Chris came back into the room but what was strange was that the box was red in color and the words on the specification was more chilling
Species: Unknown
Age: 1000-2000
That couldn’t be right. There was supposed to be a good feature database to identify that Chris was human yet why.
“There must be a bug in the codes. It says you’re not human. Can you believe that, Chris?” A nervous chuckle escaped James as he turned his attention back to the screen to open the codes and double check what they did wrong
“Actually… I can believe it. Seems it’s only the age function that’s not accurate enough. A range won’t cut it” with a shrug of his shoulders, Chris leaned in and scanned over the codes a couple of times “Yeah, I really think we should feed this AI more age specific images of sorts”
“What did you mean by you can believe it” James was taken aback and as he glanced up at Chris he stood just a few inches beside him, he noticed how Chris’ pupils flickered red for a moment from the computer light
“Whatcha looking at, James?” a teasing grin stretched upon his thin lips and as his pointed canines finally showed, James inched back out of fear
“N-nothing--” his words were cut off when Chris was already behind him, leaning so close that he could feel the warmth of his breath against his otherwise cool skin.
“Have I ever told you?” James’ breath hitched and he could feel hands slowly wrapping around his neck “I’m a demon.” He could feel the hands tightening, constricting his air intake. He was gasping for air, desperately trying to pry the hand off “And I don’t leave any loose ends behind”
"I promise I won't tell-- Chris please..." James was struggling, squirming in his hold but with tge overwhelming strength the other possessed, all the effort was futile.
It was a matter of minutes before the struggling ended and James lied limp on the chair he was seated in.
Colored 4
**Chapter 1** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/colored-92f0c10c
**Chapter 2** https://read.cash/@Hanzell/colored-2-f1552c60
Chapter 3 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/colored-3-50b5d975
Jean’s POV
Alcohol wasn’t something I was so inclined on drinking but since she offered so persistently in the past few days, I thought why not. After such a horrible shift at the publishing house. I deserve a drink. Perhaps 3 drinks down, I was already a bit too tipsy but I didn’t really care at that point. I just wanted to enjoy the night for tomorrow would be another working day for me.
“I really hate being a paperboy, you know? I came to Paris wanting to be something. But all I am is a pile of trash on the side of the road. Sure It’s paying for that sh*thole of a dorm I’m staying at but that isn’t what I came here for”
As usual, Linda was quiet. I was lucky enough to get a nod or two from her but otherwise she would just listen, ask a few questions. I couldn’t tell if it helped but she really never was the talkative type
“And I only worked at the publishing house because I wanted to be a journalist… I wanted to travel more.. Be as far away from my hometown as possible.”
I moved to sit on the sofa where Linda had settled in and as shameless as it was, I rested my head on her lap. Shocked as she was at first, she eventually just placed her delicate paint stained hands on my head and began treading her digits through my oil-slicked hair. It was comforting but it made me more and more confused as to why she was doing all this for me.
“I just don’t get it!” I sat up a bit and downed the wine she had just poured into my glass. I was sure I hadn't had a lot but I was really getting past my limit. I was confused and was pretty sure I wouldn’t even make it back if I don’t stop myself.
“And what’s been bothering you today?” I could sense the sincerity in her tone but it was probably the wine talking at that point.
“You. Work. The newspaper publishing house. My life. Everything” As soon as the words left my lips, I could barely stand to face her out of fear of what her expression might be now
“That’s a lot. But what’s with me?” Her words were still cool. Still the normal Linda i’ve spent these pastfew days with.
“Why do you say you want to draw me all the time. Are you some sort of pervert? Never have you shownme whatever it is you’ve been working on. Am I that ugly to be ridiculed like this?” It was true. I wasnothing but a piece of trash. To my family, my hometown, here, everywhere. Maybe she got her kicksfrom making me do all those poses.
“You? Ugly?” SHe seemed to be more offended by me degrading myself than by having called her apervert. She definitely was a strange one. If I were back in my hometown, everyone would probably haveagreed yet not her.
“You say you’re ugly?!?” I could feel her irritation as she stood abruptly. My eyes trailed her until she
came to a stop in front of the white sheets she told me never to touch. No words came after, she justpulled off the covering and there stood two canvases. One was what looked like a scene from the pub.
The first time I played… She painted it. From memory? Yet it came off so vibrant. The blaring red lightsthat seemed to reflect off my skin and my eyes, the empty gaze I had, the red wine that seemed redderin the painting. It was nothing but beautiful. Like the rest of the world didn’t matter in this image. All herattention was on me, even now. The second one.. It was when I was sitting on the window sill. Thesecond pose she made me try out. As much as the light hurt my eyes that day, I looked almost peacefulas white light seemed to make my pale skin much paler than it should be. But the way she made the blueof my eyes more vibrant.
“These.. Are me..?” These couldn’t be me.
“These too” I gazed down at the small sketchpad she was handing me. It was the one she said was a top secret. Why was she giving this to me. I flipped through the pages and surprise wasn’t even enough todescribe the sensation. I was simply in awe. Every moment that she could, she observed me, sketchedme. Had I always been this beautiful in her eyes. I couldn’t be.
“I think I’ll head home now. Thank you for the drink and your time.”
“I’ll walk you. You’re drunk and you might not get home.” It felt like seeing those images and sketcheshad drained me of all my energy that I just allowed her to do as she pleased plus it seemed the betterchoice with all that wine I downed.
The walk back was silent except for the passing carriages but otherwise neither of us spoke until we bidour good nights at the doorsteps of the dorm. From the window, I could see her lingering downstairs,probably thinking.
That night I didn’t sleep and I believe she didn’t either. It still took her awhile before she left but as shewalked, I could see her look back every now and then.
I'll put the links when I'm on a pc again. Anyways, my sketching skills have gone ugly so fast but i think it's just the bad pen i was using and the lack of imagination
Chapter 5 https://read.cash/@Hanzell/colored-5-7925f260
@Hanzell
