Discover Top Posts Tagged with #unofficial sequel

Tells (Toph's suspicions)

An unofficial (for now) sequel to The Airbender and the Noble. Reference to Mai/Zuko. They are not dating at the moment. You can feel free to have this be a break Zuko and Mai are having before finding each other again or have this be a low-drama break up and ship whatever you like. I just don't feel like addressing romance directly.

There was something weird about Mai. Toph was sure of it.

She wasn't about to voice her suspicions to Zuko. The guy wore his heart on his sleeve and she didn't need her seismic sense to know he trusted the young noble. She wasn't going to get anywhere with him without evidence and backup.

"I'm telling you guys, something's up with her." She insisted to Sokka and Suki. They were the least likely to do something stupid with her sense of unease (unlike Aang who would tell Zuko or Katara would would confront Mai).

"You've said," Sokka sighed. "But I've been keeping an eye out and I haven't seen anything weird about her."

"You know, except for staying friends with Zuko." Suki added.

"It's not that weird to stay friends with an ex." Sokka protested. "Besides, they're taking 'a break', that's different."

"That's not it." Toph growled. This wasn't about the dating-not dating thing. It was something else.

"Then what is it?!" Sokka flapped his arms in some exasperated gesture.

"Think back to those moments you feel suspicious." Suki cut in before they lost track of the conversation without further bickering. "What's the last time you felt something weird about her?"

Toph frowned. "I guess it was when she stopped that assassin." She scowled in their direction. "And yes. I know that stopping an assassin is the opposite of suspicious behavior but that was the last time I felt really strongly that something was off about her." It was always there a little bit, but that was the moment that Toph felt her hair raise with unease and she'd slammed a wall up between (Fire Lord) Zuko and the perceived threat. It was really only luck that Mai was in between him and the assassin, everyone had written it off as Toph protecting Zuko without impeding the knife thrower instead of Toph mistaking the knife thrower for the dangerous one.

"Okay, go back to that moment." Sokka said. "Think about it."

"Something changed." Suki added. "What was it?" Toph took a deep breath and sat down, propping up her feet so she could focus better without distractions from the world around her.

She'd been walking with Zuko and Mai. She'd tried to squeeze between them, but when that hadn't worked she'd started tugging his sleeve, wanting to take him somewhere, show him something, she didn't remember.

Someone shouted. An assassin in the rafters. She couldn't detect him in the rafters. Mai threw a knife. Blood splashed on the stone floor, followed by the assassin, armed to kill- wait...

Mai threw a knife.

Mai threw a knife and something changed.

Mai threw a knife and became less connected to the earth...

Mai threw a knife and...

"She moved like Aang." Toph blurted out her realization before she could think better of it.

"What?" Suki asked, confused.

"Nothing." Toph said quickly, her mind racing, but they were too smart and the implications of what she'd just said was obvious.

"Toph..." Sokka said slowly "Are you saying that Mai moves like an airbender?"

#Toph #Mai #Sokka #Suki #(Mentioned)#Zuko #Aang #Katara #avatar the last airbender #ficlet #Protective Toph #Suspicious Toph #Mai has a secret #Lite sequel #Unofficial sequel #Airbender Mai #(I don't feel like writing romance right now so Mai and Zuko are on a break. Up to you if they get back together or not.)

Head Fucked

This is an unofficial sequel to Head-Fuck one of @misseviehyde‘s hottest stories

Monica's heart pounded as she stood in front of the door, clutching the address she had found after a lengthy search. She hesitated for a moment, her mind racing with doubt and uncertainty. What if Violet remembered her as the same person she had tormented all those years ago? What if she slammed the door in her face?

Summoning her courage, Monica raised her hand and knocked on the door. The seconds ticked by like hours as she waited, her anxiety growing with each passing moment. She didn’t have a lot of time before Wren got home from school and paraded around like the bitchy brat she was now. Finally, the door creaked open, revealing a girl her daughter’s age. She wore glasses and had a friendly face.

“Hi can I help you?” She asked with a pleasant smile.

#f2f #corruption #bitchification #magic #evil bitch #power transfer #evie hyde #unofficial sequel #cc2023

Yet another @merlinbingo and @kinkalot fill ♥

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

It's the first time I write a sequel from something I haven't written myself. I can only hope Lily likes it as much as I liked their fic ♥

#merlin bbc #merthur #bbc merlin #merlin #arthur pendragon #arthur x merlin #my writing #slash fic #ao3 #unofficial sequel

In this episodic visual novel, follow the adventures of MSPA Reader as they return to Alternia once more to save their friends... and realize that nothing is as it seems.

Friendsim 2, Volume 2 - out NOW!

Discover the heart and soul of the Alternian revolution as you unpack generational trauma on board the teal flagship in the officially UNofficial sequel to Hiveswap: Friendsim!

Download now for FREE!

#hiveswap #friendsim #friendsim 2 #FanstuckFriday #Friendsim2 #video game #visual novel #fan project #Fan Game #Fangame #unofficial sequel #sequel #hiveswap friendsim #homestuck #Homestuck Game

I Got You

A/N: I watched Echoes the other night and frankly, I just needed to write this. Sort of an unofficial sequel to The Road to Nowhere Leads to Me.

They’re almost back to Atlantis from the mainland when Rodney realizes that maybe something’s a bit off with Sheppard – er… John (and he has to remind himself to start calling Shep—John by his first name because this whole… thing between this is still relatively new and it’s probably not social acceptable for one to refer to one’s boyfriend by last name only). No one would ever really call him chatty, but this level of quietness is almost unsettling, especially when Rodney tries to goad him into some gentle bantering and he’s just not having it. “What’s wrong with you?” He asks finally as the city is just coming into view. “Huh?” Rodney squints, mouth turning down in a frown. “I certainly didn’t stutter, Colonel.” Maybe that’ll get his attention.

He waits a moment, and then two. Nope. Nada. The lights are on but nobody’s home. “… John.”

At that, John lifts a hand and presses the heel of it against one of his eyes, wincing and Rodney notices for the first time how not well the other actually looks. “I’ve just… got this killer headache that won’t go away,” he says and it actually sounds pained in a way that Rodney isn’t quite used to from him. He watches as John squints at the city in the distance. “Maybe I should take over?” For a split second, he thinks John might be considering it before he shakes his head. “Nah, s’alright. I know how much you struggle to fly in a straight line.” There’s the smallest hint of teasing in his voice but Rodney doesn’t rise to the challenge because it’s such a weak attempt on John’s part that he knows he’d absolutely assassinate John with a comeback and where’s the fun in that? “Are you sure? Because, because I’ve been in one of these things when it’s crashed into the water, if you remember correctly, and I really have no intention of repeating that, so if you aren’t feeling well, I’d rather just--.” “Rodney,” John says and now, there’s a trace of a bite to his tone. Wow. Hostile. “Okay, I’m just saying--.” “I know,” John says. “But it’s fine. I’ve got it.” Rodney resigns himself to believing that for about a split second until he glances over again and notices the blood dripping from John’s nose. “John--.” “Dammit, Rodney! I said I’m--.” And whatever lie John was about to tell dies on his lips as he slumps over, head smacking the console. Immediately, Rodney leaps into action, grabbing John before he slips out of the pilot’s chair to ease him down onto the floor, his head lulling to the side sickeningly. “Jumper 1, this is Atlantis, come in. Your course has drastically shifted.” Radek’s voice comes through the comm system in the jumper and Rodney suddenly realizes that no one is, you know, actually piloting. “I need a medical team to the Jumper Bay. Sheppard is down, I repeat, Sheppard is down.” He scrambles into the pilot’s chair and manages to jerk it upwards approximately three point five seconds before the jumper crashes into the ocean. “Rodney?” It’s Elizabeth’s voice now, and she sounds about as worried as Rodney feels. “Carson’s here. What happened?” “Can’t talk now! Trying to fly and not, you know, crash and send us both to our deaths in the horrifically vast ocean. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.” “Rodney!” “Just have them standing by!” He cuts off the comm system and glances down at John who has not yet regained consciousness. “Please be okay, please be okay, please be okay.” It becomes his mantra as he somehow manages to navigate the jumper back to the city and into the bay. He barely has time to lower the door before a med team is swarming in and before Rodney has a chance to so much as breathe, they’re gone, John with them. There’s a small bit of blood on the floor from where John was laying and Rodney has to work very hard not to throw up. ---- It’s dark in the hallway, save for the faint blue glow emanating from the center of the wall closest to him. He reaches out, hand pressing against it and he can feel the thrum of hurt intensifying, adding to what’s already there in his head. He staggers at the force of it, drops to his knees and presses the heels of his hands against his eyes in an attempt to stave off the pounding of his head. But this isn’t his hurt, he realizes after a moment. It’s hers, and that thought alone is enough to force him back to his feet, hand reaching out to touch that blue light again. This time, he feels an almost burning heat fanning out from the center of his hand as the blue expands and he watches as it begins to creep across the wall, almost as if it’s beckoning him to follow. He’s never been good at following orders and he has the record to prove it, but he finds his feet moving, seemingly of their own accord, allowing the glow to lead him down the darkened hallway for what seems like forever until it stops, finally, at a room he doesn’t quite recognize. “Why am I here?” Because I need your help, she answers

back, the words cool and gentle within his mind. Find me, John Sheppard. Before it’s too late. “Before what’s too late? What are you trying to tell me?” But she’s already receding from his mind and all he’s left with is a light so bright that penetrates the darkness as John opens his eyes. --- Rodney’s there when John finally comes to under the bright lights of the infirmary. “Oh thank God,” he says as he slumps back into the chair, running a hand across his forehead. “Far be it from me to say I told you so, but--.” He doesn’t get a chance to finish before John is sitting up so quickly that it makes Rodney a bit dizzy, kicking the blankets off of his legs. “Whoa, whoa, whoa.” He stands up, pressing a hand to John’s shoulder to ease him back down onto the mattress and Ronon is on the other side of the bed, doing the same. “Where do you think you’re goin’?” The Satedan asks in his natural rumble. “I have to help her,” John says and Rodney suddenly finds himself a bit miffed at that. “Help who?” He asks and if he sounds a little pissy, he thinks he’s probably allowed because you know, he’s the one been sitting at John’s bedside for the last several hours, worried very much about the possibility of brain damage and now that he’s awake, the first thing he mentions is some second rate harlot and--. “The city,” he rasps and he grabs Ronon’s wrist, trying to force it off of him. “Something’s wrong with the city.” “What? The city is fine,” Rodney says, but he’s reaching for his tablet anyway, pulling up the city schematics to scan over quickly, searching for any indication that something was not right. “See?” He says, and he turns the tablet to face John so he can see for himself. “The back up teams cleaned everything up nicely, there’s absolutely nothing that would indicate--.” “Rodney,” he says and there’s an almost wild look in his eyes as he glances up at the scientist, seemingly pleading with him to just listen. “They missed something. There’s something wrong, we have to--.” “Aye,” Carson greets, a smile on his face. “There ya are. Ya had us quite worried there for a bit. I’d still like to run a few scans--.” Rodney tunes him out as he searches John’s face and he supposes that there is a possibility that something was missed. It’s a huge city, many parts that they’ve yet to explore and the Wraith attack had been devastating. He rationalizes that this could also possibly be attributed to some sort of brain injury, what with the bleeding and the passing out and everything but something in John’s eyes gives him pause. Whatever’s brought him to this conclusion, John seems to truly believe that there’s something wrong with their city, with their home and while Rodney isn’t apt to act without actual evidenced based data, he finds that he can’t quite let this go without investigating. “Stop,” he says, holding up a hand to Carson. “We need to go.” “Go? What are ye on about?” Carson asks, clearly annoyed at the interruption. “We still don’ know what caused the bleedin’ an’--.” “Something’s wrong with the city,” Rodney says, echoing John’s previous statement. “We have to go.” Ronon glances at Rodney from across John’s bed and when Rodney gives a barely there nod, Ronon crowds Carson, gently ushering him away. “Sorry, doc.” “Oh, ye can’t be serious! Rodney!” “Can you stand?” Rodney asks John, and he reaches for him, carefully like he’s not sure where it’s okay to touch, especially in public, but John’s hand grabs his wrists and he squeezes gently. “Thank you.” “If you really want to thank me,” Rodney says dryly, “you can do so by not passing out on me again during what is sure to be a long trip around the city. “I’ll do my best,” John answers solemnly and Rodney supposes that’s as good as it gets. --- It’s dark outside, the Lantean sun having set several hours ago. They’ve split up into groups, Ronon and Teyla, Lorne and McMasters, John and Rodney. They’ve had absolutely no luck in finding anything of consequence and Rodney is trying very hard not to lose his temper because he’s

tried to show John on the tablet several times now that everything still shows all is well, but John is insistent. Desperate even, only growing moreso the farther away they get from the heart of the city. “Teyla, Ronon, this is McKay. Anything?” “No, Rodney,” Teyla answers back almost immediately. “It seems as though everything is still working as it should over this way.” “Lorne?” “All good here, doc. I’m gonna suggest we call it, at least for the night. Some of these labs haven’t properly been cleared yet, I’d like to--.” “No,” John says and when Rodney glances over to give him an exasperated glare, he realizes that John’s nose is bleeding again. “John, what are you--!” “This is the hallway,” he tells Rodney, reaching up to wipe the blood away, smearing it to his cheek. “This is… she needs us…” He reaches out and touches the wall and Rodney watches as it pulsates under his hand, a blue glow flickering to life. He’s always known that Atlantis liked John better than she liked anyone else, has seen it in the way rooms light up for him, the effortless way in which John activates all her tech, but this… this is something else. She’s actually communicatingwith him, he knows it. “Three levels above the east pier,” Rodney says into his comm. “Teyla—” “We are already on our way,” and over the radio, Rodney can hear the heavy footfalls of their feet against the floor. Rodney doesn’t realize that John has walked away, not at first, until he turns to see the glow halfway down the hall, barely illuminating John’s figure as it guides him further into the darkness. Rodney follows, and suddenly, John stops outside of a door. “Is this it?” Rodney asks, but he already knows the answer to the question. He slides his hand over the crystal, but the door doesn’t budge, not that Rodney expected it to. “Okay,” he says, and his voice is gentle now, perhaps more gentle than it’s ever been, but there’s something about the pinched look on John’s face that honestly, truly worries him. It reminds him of how he looked on the jumper, right before he, you know, passed out. He checks his tablet, but he knows it’s a moot point because the city is off-line down here, which is why they never knew there was a problem. The sensors just don’t reach this far, but he thinks he should be able to still get the door open. “John,” Rodney says, and there’s no response. “John.” But John seems not to hear him as he reaches for the door, fingers gripping the edge as he tries, desperately, to pull it open. “Oh, oh. Yes.” Rodney puts the tablet down carefully and he moves to the other side, glancing at John to follow his lead and as John pulls again, the noise that escapes him sends a shiver down Rodney’s spine. He screams as the door finally slides open and now, Rodney notices the blood trickling out of John’s ear, just in time to grab John as he crumples, guiding him to the floor. “Rodney!” Teyla’s voice echoes down the hallway, and Rodney calls back, voice nearing on hystericalas he situates himself below John to pillow his head on his lap. “Here! We’re here!” Ronon comes into view first, gun aimed, followed quickly by Teyla. “We heard screaming, what—John?” “It’s Atlantis!” Rodney says, “She’s using John to communicate, there’s something--.” Ronon needs to hear no more as he slips through the opened door and a second later, there’s the sound of laser fire. Rodney’s petting over John gently, shaking him gently, pleading with him to wake up but it’s to no avail. Teyla has disappeared inside of the room that John brought them to and Rodney risks a fraction of a moment to lean down, letting his lips brush against John’s forehead. “Please, please, please wake up.” John resolutely does not. --- “Did we do it?” He’s somewhere quiet and he’s alone, but he can feel her around him, leaving him warm and comforted, reminding him very much of being wrapped up in his mother’s embrace when he was seven and had the flu. He remembers that because before coming to Atlantis, it was the last time he felt well and

truly loved because she’d died less than three weeks later. You did, and he closes his eyes, letting her warmth wash over him. The pain is gone, both his and hers, he realizes and there’s a feeling of contriteness that settles inside of him, like she’s saying she’s sorry and he guesses she means for basically hijacking his mind. But, as unsettling as it should be, he finds that he’s always known she was there, really. The gentle thrumming, the quiet humming of her power he feels tucked away somewhere in the back of his mind. She wasn’t trying to hurt him, he knows. It’s not just his found family that cares for him, not just Rodney… but her too. There will be no lasting damage, she promises him and the warmth begins to recede, just a bit. To either you or me. But please tell Doctor McKay not to be too angry with me. The darkness is fading now with her and he’s not really sure why she thinks Rodney would be upset with her. He tries to ask, but the feeling of a gentle hand in his hair, a quiet murmuring of voices, breaks through and John closes his eyes, letting it guide him out of the dark. Thank you once again, John Sheppard. You saved us all. --- “—still don’t understand how we didn’t know it was here,” Elizabeth says and Rodney has to fight not to roll his eyes because they’ve been over this, he’s explained it ad nauseum. “The life signs detector is tied in directly with the city’s power grid,” he says exasperatedly and he thinks about reaching for his tablet as a nice visual aide but somewhere along the way, his hand had settled into John’s hair and it’s so soft that he kind of doesn’t want to pull it away. He doesn’t know if it brings John any comfort, but it brings him some, feeling the warmth of the other under his hand and damn if he’ll let anyone take that away from him. Even at the sake of his own sanity for having to go through this again. “That part of the city still doesn’t get any power. No power means it can’t communicate with us. We never would’ve known.” “… never would’ve known what?” The raspy voice from the bed asks and Rodney very nearly topples out of his chair as he yanks his hand back, gaping down at John, and “oh, thank god!” “Wraith,” Ronon says by way of explanation, like it’s the most natural thing in the world and Rodney supposes maybe it is. After all, at least for right now, it’s the Wraith that’s proved to be their biggest pain in the ass. “Technically, a Wraith transmitter,” Rodney corrects and he can’t quite tear his eyes away. “The Wraith was.. well, indisposed, as it was. How are you feeling?” “What d’y’mean ‘indisposed’?” “It blew itself up when it realized that the room was heavily shielded and that the beacon couldn’t get through,” Ronon says and Rodney glares at him, because he’sthe one who likes to do all the explaining, thank you very much. “Blew a hole in the wall almost the size of a jumper.” “Yes, well,” Rodney says, steering the conversation back, “somehow, there was some sort of a fail safe built into the city’s infrastructure. There was a kind of a force field where the wall used to be, not unlike that of the cells, but with no power, it wouldn’t have held much longer. When it failed, that thing would’ve sent our coordinates to every Wraith hive ship in the galaxy and well, the ruse would’ve been up. But enough about that, how are you feeling?” “Kinda like I got hit by a truck,” John says and he shifts on the bed to sit up a bit more. “The transmitter’s been taken care of?” “Blasted into almost as many pieces as the Wraith,” Ronon says proudly and Teyla squeezes his arm gently. “We are very glad that you are awake, John,” she says diplomatically, “but perhaps it would be best if we let you rest?” “Whaddya mean? That’s all he’s been doing,” Ronon scoffs, but Teyla tugs at his arm anyway, bless her. “Come,” she says. “Elizabeth, perhaps I could help you in your office, go over the schedule for the teams set to search the rest of the city?” And whatever look she shares with Elizabeth has her nodding, turning to give them both a

#mcshep #sga fic #fandom: sga #john sheppard #rodney mckay #john sheppard whump #sentient!atlants #post the siege #unofficial sequel #stargate atlantis #sga #john sheppard/rodney mckay

Beatrice Santello Part 2 - #8

This chapter is a little shorter than most, but I felt it was appropriate place to end it. There’s quite a bit packed in I think

Image by teckworks. Nothing particularly related to the story, it’s just a purdy Bea.

“Bea,” Gregg said from behind her, his voice uncommonly soft. “We should go.”

Bea looked up at him, her eyes streaked with tears and saw that he too had been crying, reminding her that he had been very close to Casey as well. She stood and gave him a sincere hug which he accepted and returned.

“Wait. Let’s take his skateboard back.”

The two tied the broken and splintered remains to the rope and called for it to be brought up. Germ attached it to Mae’s rope and she managed to get it through to where she waited while Gregg tied off the flamethrower and Germ did the same with it. However they had only one flashlight and they decided Gregg should take it up with him before lowering it back down, which would leave Bea alone in the dark.

Bea helped Gregg get into the harness and he began to climb. The ascent was much slower, but Gregg was the most physically fit of them all and once he got up to Mae’s rope she was able to help.

Though Bea wasn’t prone to fear of the dark, watching the bobbing light slowly fade above her as the shadows gathered around her with nothing but corpses to keep her company did cause her heart to beat a little faster. She tried not to think about it, but the minutes dragged on and it was the silence that really began to gnaw at her.

She began to sing quietly.

“I just want to die anywhere else…”

She wondered if Casey would have preferred this dark pit to Possum Springs.

“If only I could die anywhere else…”

Why had she been so mean to him? She could have just gotten angry and demanded he stop the drugs - or at least keep them out of her store. She didn’t have to end their relationship so abruptly.

“So come with me, let’s die anywhere else…”

The tears started again as Gregg disappeared from view and she was left in total darkness, deep underground with the bones of her former boyfriend. She felt dizzy and moved closer to Casey. She touched his hoodie, now dry and brittle, like the rest of him.

“Anywhere…”

She gathered the folds in her hands and felt the bones within. “I’m sorry, Casey,” she thought through blind, wet eyes. “I hope you forgive me. Wherever you are.”

“Just not here…”

Her voice cracked at the words.

Then she let the silence wash over her, and for a moment dreamed that she was alone with Casey, and he hugged her back, assuring her that all was forgiven.

“You okay down there?” came Germ’s voice from far above her. It bothered her. It threatened to take her away from Casey and she didn’t want to go. Not yet.

“Bea?” came the voice again.

She didn’t want to hear it. But Gregg’s voice followed.

“Bea, I’m sending the flashlight back down.”

She kissed Casey in the dark and whispered to him. And he whispered back.

“I’ve got to go,” she said as the light slowly returned.

“I know. But it’s okay Bea. I’m okay where I am.”

“I don’t want to leave you,” she whispered.

“You’re not leaving me, Bea. I’m not here. That’s just my body. I’m not in there anymore. You take me with you.”

“Am I just talking to myself?”

The flashlight came into view. For a second, she saw Casey standing in front of her. Not an incorporeal wisp, but as she had seen him long ago in the Grant house.

“No,” he said and smiled, then faded as the light came to a stop, resting on the floor.

“BEA!” called Gregg from above, and she opened her eyes.

She stood up and walked to the flashlight and harness, strapping herself into the harness and putting the flashlight around her head. She looked back - not at the body, but at the place where he had been. She smiled, and realized it didn’t matter if it had been real or not. It was real to her. Casey had absolved her of her guilt, and she felt better than she had for a long time.

“Goodbye Casey Hartley. I loved you,” she whispered. Then she looked up.

“I’m coming, Gregg!” she called up. “Just had to say goodbye.”

Then she began to climb. It was awkward, and more than once she had to pull the rope up, using the friction from the loops around the carabiner to rest, but slowly she rose out of the pit, getting help from Mae, Gregg and Germ as they helped pull the ropes up as best they could.

Finally she saw Germ and Gregg above her, and they scrambled to catch her hands and pull her back up to the ledge where she stopped to rest.

“Are you okay Bea?” Mae’s voice asked from the other side of the little tunnel.

“Yeah. I think I am,” Bea replied, though she was still breathing hard from the final effort. Mae’s voice sounded strained too, though, and she realized how hard her friends had also worked to get her back up.

“Thanks, guys,” she said, feeling like the words were inadequate but hoping they understood.

It took another hour to get everyone completely out of the pit, and plenty of scrapes and bruises were had in the end, but they managed it.

Mae hugged her tightly when finally she emerged from the tunnel underneath the slab, and she returned the hug.

“I’m okay, Mae.”

“I know. But I was worried when you didn’t answer them back!”

“Sorry. I was… I don’t know. I was somewhere else. Let’s get back to Angus.”

“Yes, please!” said the staticy voice over the walkie-talkie.

#bea santello #beatrice santello #nitw #night in the woods #fanfiction #unofficial sequel #mae borowski #gregg lee #jeremy warton #casey hartley

Nailing it!

This is an unofficial, spiritual follow up / tribute to @misseviehyde and @amiee-bee’s wonderful 5 part ‘magic nails’ series. Hope everyone (especially Evie and Amiee) like it!

Heidi stood in the school parking lot, alone after the bell had rang, watching the rest of the students file in. It was hard to believe that just a few weeks ago, her best friend Lara had been standing right next to her, giggling and gossiping about the other girls in their class. But now, Lara was gone. She had been sent to boarding school, leaving Heidi all alone in their small town high school.

Heidi had been a geeky freshman before she met Lara who brought out the mean girl in her. Quite literally. The two had become fast friends due to their love of math and reading and hung out all the time but it was Lara who suggested they go to the salon and get their nails done. Heidi had been apprehensive at first, hating the superficial nature of a salon, but Aimee the owner put her at ease with her almost trance like soothing words.

Unbeknownst to both girls, the salon specialized in magic nails and once Aimee had put on the first nail it had sealed Heidi’s fate of becoming a mean girl. Lara had watched in horror as her best friend transformed before her eyes into a beautiful but heartless bitch.

However after Heidi was done, it was Lara’s turn and Heidi made sure she got it done. Heidi watched with delight as Lara transformed into her bitchy besty. After that day they were unstoppable.

Heidi became the queen bitch of their school, and Lara was her loyal number two. Together, they controlled the school, teasing and tormenting anyone who dared to cross them.

But now, as she sat alone in her empty classroom, Heidi couldn't help but wonder who she was without Lara. She just wasn’t having as much fun bullying or teasing.

“Oh honey that’s because you need a beta.” Aimee said to her one day when Heidi spilled her guts to her over a new manicure session.

“You are meant to rule like a true blue bitch. But you need a beta bitch to laugh at your jokes, compliment you, gossip with. It’s what gives you power. Can’t you bring me a girl to make into a new bitchy bestie for you?” Aimee said but she knew the answer.

“No, you know I can’t even afford these. If I hadn’t got Lara to pay for these in advance I wouldn’t even have these maintenance sessions and I’d be back to being dorky and lame.” Heidi said with a shudder.

“Well you’ll just have to find someone bitchy enough then but good luck finding anyone who can match that creation of mine.” Aimee said thinking back on Lara. She had been a fun corruption to do and a profitable one as well. Lara’s dad was filthy rich and once Lara became a superficial mean bitch she embraced the stereotype of spoilt rich daddy’s girl.

Aimee finished up and said goodbye to Heidi who felt refreshed from her nail top up but also still unsure what her next moves should be. That’s when Evie, the salon receptionist pulled her aside secretly.

“I couldn’t help but over hear your dilemma and I think I can help. I’ve been working on a new set of nails and I need someone to test them on.” Evie said in a hushed tone that made Heidi slightly uneasy.

“Well you must have heard that I can’t afford anything new and besides I don’t like the idea about being your science project.” Heidi said coldly.

“Not for you silly, for your potential new bestie. You bring me a girl and I’ll make you a new BFF. For free. No cost and no risk to you. What do you say?” Evie said.

Heidi’s eyes narrowed as she thought it over. It did sound like it was all upsides so what did she have to lose? Heidi nodded and accepted the plan.

“Then it’s a deal. Find me a blank canvas and I’ll give you a masterpiece. Oh and don’t tell Aimee, it’ll be our little secret.” Evie said with a wink.

As soon as Heidi was in school the next day she got to work on finding a new girl to become her number two, but she quickly realized that most of the other girls were lacking. The problem was that most had already been through years of bullying from herself and Lara. None of them would believe that she wanted to be friends with them now. She could never convince them to come to the nail salon with her, they’d all believe it was a trap. She could force one of them but it was too risky.

That’s when Heidi's gaze settled on Mia, the bookish plain girl in her class who was practically invisible to everyone else. Mia was the perfect candidate, a blank canvas just waiting to be painted. She was smart, but shy and timid, with no real friends to speak of. Best of all, she had just moved there from another school and had no history with Heidi or Lara.

Despite this it wasn't easy at first. Mia was wary of Heidi's advances, and it took some time for Heidi to win her over. Heidi was patient, taking things slow and building a genuine connection with Mia. She listened to Mia's problems and offered advice, and before long, Mia began to open up and trust Heidi. It was the perfect opportunity for Heidi to make her move.

"Come on, Mia, it'll be fun," Heidi said, grinning at her friend. "We'll go to the city and get our nails done and have a girls' day out. What do you say?"

Mia hesitated, fidgeting with the edges of her book. "I don't know, Heidi. I don't really like long nails. They make me feel uncomfortable."

Heidi rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on. You're always cooped up in the library, studying. You deserve a little bit of pampering. And besides, the salon I'm talking about is different. They have these special nails. Trust me, you'll love them."

Mia's eyes widened as she looked at her phone. "How come this place doesn’t have any reviews? It also says it’s closed when you want to go. It all sounds a little sketchy."

"It's not sketchy at all," Heidi insisted. "I go all the time and they're amazing. They helped give me the confidence and assertiveness I needed to stand up for myself. You deserve that too, Mia. You deserve to feel powerful and in control. I asked them to open early just for us."

Mia looked uncertain, but Heidi could see the temptation in her eyes. She knew she had Mia hooked.

"Please, Mia," Heidi begged, giving her friend an imploring look. "Just give it a try. I promise you won't regret it. Plus you’re always saying how much your biting your nails, this way it won’t be your actual nails."

Mia instinctively went to bite her nails out of nervousness and realized Heidi was right. She sighed and nodded. "Okay, fine. But if anything weird happens, I'm blaming you."

Heidi grinned triumphantly. "You won't regret it, I promise. Now come on, let's go get beautiful!"

Heidi and Mia arrived at the salon, a sense of excitement and nervousness in the air.

"Okay, so what do we do?" Mia asked, looking around nervously.

"First, we pick out the colors and styles we want," Heidi said, leading the way to the display of nail polish. "Then we sit down in the chairs and let the professionals take care of the rest."

Mia nodded, still looking uncertain. "And these nails, they're not going to hurt or anything, right?"

"Of course not," Heidi reassured her. "They're completely safe. And trust me, the benefits are worth it."

As they sat down in the chairs, Heidi secretly winked at Evie who was sitting at the station with Mia. Evie smiled back at her and replaced the nails Mia had chosen with a new set she had hidden away.

“Hey what about the set I picked out?” Mia said sounding concerned.

“I need to apply these first, these are what we consider a ‘foundation’ set. Once these have been placed on we can then add your selection.” Evie said with a smile that unnerved Mia slightly.

Mia looked over at Heidi, her hand already at her mouth biting her nails and a worried expression on her face. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Heidi smiled and squeezed Mia's hand. "Don't worry, it'll be fine. Just trust me."

As Evie began to work on their nails, Heidi watched with a sense of satisfaction. This was it, the moment she had been waiting for. Soon, Mia would be a mean girl, and together, they would rule the school.

However as the magic nails were applied to Mia's fingers she was disappointed to see no change in Mia’s physical appearance. When Heidi had first put them on her hair grew thick and long, her breasts big and round and her skin smooth and tan. Mia looked the same with nearly all the nails on. Evie sensing Heidi’s disappointment launched into conversation with Mia.

“Ok Mia, we’re almost done with these, do you still want me to put on your choice of nails after this?” Aimee asked and Heidi watched with interest.

“Hmmm? Sorry I was a million miles away. The other nails? Ugh no I don’t know what I was thinking, these are perfect. I want to keep these.” Mia said in a slightly bratty voice putting Heidi’s worries slightly to rest.

“You just need to be patient with this new formula. It’s designed to release her ‘bitchification’ more gradual that yours or Lara’s did but should be more potent in the end. The slow release should also help her accept the change easier, if she figures out what’s happening too soon her body may reject them.” Evie said to Heidi alone as Mia waited outside after her nails were completed.

Mia couldn’t stop looking at her nails, admiring how they looked, they almost looked foreign on top of her tomboyish body and dress sense.

“Nails like these should have some tight outfits to match, just imagine how good they would look against a sleek and shiny dress wrapped around your curves.” A voice whispered in her mind making her nod in agreement. A change was in order.

“Come on Heidi, I want to go shopping!” Mia shouted from outside in a commanding tone that made Heidi reflectively yell “coming!” back to her.

Heidi watched Mia with curiosity for the rest of the day. Mia seemed more assured of herself as she strolled around the mall and dipped into store after store. She also appeared to have a new fashion sense. She picked out quite the mean girl attire that was certainly an improvement on her baggy hoodies and sweatpants.

“This was great today Heidi, thanks for convincing me to get these hawt nails.” Mia said as Heidi dropped her off at her house after their day of shopping.

“No problem Babe, I knew you’d love them. It’s going to be so good showing you off tomorrow at school. See you then.” Heidi said driving off. Mia felt a surge of excitement for tomorrow. She had always been one to fade into the background at school but now was looking forward to the limelight. In fact it was making her kind of horny. By the time she was up in her room the wicked voice had returned and was whispering in her head once more.

“Wouldn’t it feel so hawt to finger yourself with your new claws? It would be even hotter if you watched yourself do it in the mirror.”

She shoved her hand into her jeans and went straight for her aching pussy. She moaned as she felt the delight of stroking her clit with her new long nails on her. She stared at her reflection, watching herself finger her pussy.

“You’re going to look so fucking good tomorrow, all eyes will be on you.” The voice said making a soft moan escape Mia’s lips as she began picturing the scene of her strolling beside Heidi taking in everyone’s looks.

“Yesss everyone won’t be able to take their eyes off me.” She moaned as she imagined the scene.

As she massaged inside her pussy over and over again the formula of the nails started to react with her wetness, stripping off the coating ever so slightly. She groaned as her body began to react to the direct absorption of the formula.

Her breasts seemed to grow fuller and more pronounced, and her lips became plumper and more sensual. Even her hair seemed to change, lightening to a dyed blonde and took on more body and shine. Mia gasped as she watched her body change before her eyes but far from being afraid of what it meant, she hungered for more.

"Yesss! Don't stop! Keep going!" Mia exclaimed, her eyes glowing with a manic energy as the previous fantasy in her mind changed. She wasn’t strolling beside Heidi, instead Heidi was flanking her like a loyal 2nd. It felt more natural that way in her mind.

“Yesss you’re not a follower, your a leader. You don’t share the spotlight, you own the spotlight!” The voice hissed.

As the transformation continued, Mia's personality began to shift as well. She felt more vain and cold, her once soft and gentle demeanor hardening into something sharp and narcissistic.

"Oh my god, I can't believe how good this feels. I’m so fucking hot," Mia said, her voice dripping with vanity as she climaxed. "I feel so bitchy and bad, I can’t wait to show off myself tomorrow!"

“Why wait? Your hot and horny now! The world deserves to see you. No it NEEDS to see you.” the voice purred in her head and a playful smirk played across Mia’s new pouty lips as she was compelled to agree. She had to get as many eyes on her as possible. She wanted to dance and drink and have a man’s hands all over her body.

As the light caught her nails she knew they were somehow involved with her transformation. It made sense why Heidi was so adamant that they got their nails done and why it was so secretive. What was Heidi’s endgame? Was it something to be worried about? If so why did it feel so good? Questions piled on questions making Mia suddenly anxious and she instinctively went to bite her nails.

However as soon as they touched her lips and she tasted their coating she felt an immediate calm come over her body. A pleasure rippled across her body. Her posture changed making her stand up straight and push out her new bigger tits confidently.

“Why should I be worried? Look at how hot I am now. So what if I’m feeling meaner, more vain, more superior. Heidi clearly wants me to be like this, maybe everyone else will too.” Mia thought to herself while getting lost in her reflection.

Picking up her phone she called Heidi who answered promptly. “Hey babe what’s up?” Heidi asked with slight concern in her voice. She was in uncharted territories with these nails and so wasn’t sure what to expect.

“Let’s hit the club tonight babe, we’re too hawt to be wasted alone indoors.” Mia said as she looked at her nails with glee.

“Really? Tonight? Are you sure your, eh, ready?” Heidi said trying not to sound lame but also worried this was happening too fast and her body would reject the nails. Didn’t Evie say it would take weeks?

“Ugh fine I’ll go by myself if your going to be so boring.” Mia said snapping at Heidi.

“No! No I’ll come, I just didn’t know if you’d be tired after the day we had.” Heidi said trying not to get on her bad side.

“Cool pick me up in 30 minutes, and dress slutty.” Mia said and hung up the phone without saying goodbye. Mia didn’t need 30 minutes to get ready but bossing Heidi around started to stir up her engine again and she needed another go around with herself. She also had a theory to test out about her nails…

Heidi arrived early at Mia’s house and texted her to say she was there. Mia texted her back to tell her to come in and have a pre drink as Mia’s parents were out of town. However as she knocked on the door, Heidi was met by a girl she barely recognized.

“Hey slut, about time you showed up, get a drink into you and let’s hit the club, I’m really feeling myself tonight.” Mia said as she primped herself in the mirror.

Heidi looked at Mia dumbfounded. She was staring at a blonde bombshell, one that looked like Mia’s hotter older sister rather than Mia herself. Her posture was no longer slumped and diminutive but instead she held herself with bitchy confidence. Mia seeing Heidi’s look on her face rolled her eyes.

“You can drop the act now dummy, I know my transformation was all your doing, or rather due to these beauties.” Mia said lovingly showing off her nails which too looked like they had changed too.

“You’re not mad?” Heidi said preparing for the worst.

“Mad? I’m ecstatic! Look at the beautiful bitch I am now! I feel so mean and hawt, I love it! I can’t wait to get out there and show the world what I can do now that I’m not some loser dork anymore.” Mia purred with a glint of mania in her eyes.

Heidi beamed at her. She was certainly more sexy and confident than Lara ever was. Maybe she was ready for the world to see her.

At the club Mia was a sight to behold. She strutted into it like she owned the place. She basked in the lingering looks from all the men and women in the club. Pulling Heidi onto the dance floor she played coy with everyone, only focusing on Heidi.

Heidi for her part was captivated by Mia. It was amazing to see what a transformation she had undergone in such a short amount of time. Heidi knew the nails were amazing but something about this transformation felt different. Mia had a different energy. Heidi also knew that a new force had arrived and couldn’t wait until tomorrow for when they would have the real fun at school.

Mia spotted a group of staring men sitting nearby and broke off from Heidi to go talk to them. Well that’s what Heidi thought until Mia started to rub up against one of them. It was like watching a private lap dance at a strip club. The man was clearly enjoying it and tried to talk but with a wink to Heidi, Mia put a finger up to his lips and cheekily slipped it into his mouth. For a second Heidi could have sworn that she saw the man twitch for a moment before eagerly sucking her finger which turned into kisses down her arm and onto her neck.

Heidi watched as Mia straddled the man and kissed him deeply while the other guys watched and hooted. Mia broke off from the kiss to whisper something into the man’s ear, all the while having an evil grin on her perfect lips. The man nodded and gently slid Mia into the seat beside him before standing up and suddenly jumping on top of his friends, pummelling any of them within arms reach.

Heidi and everyone else watched in shock at the explosive scene. Everyone that was except Mia who was watching the fight with joy playing across her face. Mia watched it unfold getting steadily hornier and hornier, stroking her tits with her nails. Grabbing a nearby guy she kissed him deeply while digging her nails into his neck. He recoiled just for a moment before being dragged willingly out of the club by Mia. Heidi tried to follow them out but by the time she got outside they were gone.

Heidi went home soon after that, mainly because the ruckus in the club made it hard to get back in. She texted Mia to see if she was ok but didn’t get a reply until the morning.

“Where the fuck are you?” The message from Mia read Heidi was about to leave for school when the message came in. Heidi panicking called Mia.

“Mia are you ok? Where are you?” Heidi asked worried.

“Where am I? Where the fuck are you? You’re suppose to be picking me up this morning.” Mia snapped back at her.

“Oh sorry I just thought because you left with some guy last night that-” Heidi began before Mia cut her off.

“Your not suppose to think! That’s my job. You’re just suppose to do! Understand? Whatever. Just get over here in 5 minutes or find a new friend to hang out with.” Mia said, her voice oozing with contempt and hanging up.

Heidi felt kind of pissed at Mia but still sped over as fast as she could and waited for Mia who, despite demanding Heidi get over quickly, took 20 minutes before emerging from her house. Heidi couldn’t believe it but she looked different again. She looked blonder, meaner, and hotter.

“About time. Is that what you’re wearing to school?” Mia said getting into the car and looking at Heidi with mild disgust.

“Yeah? Is something wrong with it?” Heidi asked slightly nervous.

“Just don’t stand so close to me when we are in school.” Mia said touching up her makeup in the passenger mirror.

“Cute earrings though. Give them to me.” Mia said with a hand outstretched.

“W-what?” Heidi asked confused.

“Did I stutter? Give me your earrings. They’ll look better on me.” Mia said glaring at Heidi who felt her face flush. She awkwardly took off her earrings as she drove and gave them to Mia who put them on.

“They look great on you babe.” Heidi said trying to break the tension. She didn’t understand why Mia was acting so cruel to her. Lara never did this and yet Heidi was desperate for Mia’s approval for some reason.

“No duh. I feel great today too. After my night last night how could I not.” Mia said with a smirk to herself remembering the fun she had last night. She had figured out that her nails didn’t just effect her but had the ability to effect (or more accurately infect) others. Every time she used them she felt more cruel and evil as a result which only turned her on more.

At school everyone made whispers about who this new girl was, showing just how invisible Mia once was. Mia strutted down the crowded hallway of the high school, her designer heels clicking against the linoleum floor. She scanned the sea of students, searching for a target.

Finally, her gaze landed on a group of girls huddled around their locker. Mia smirked and approached them, Heidi following close behind.

"Hey losers," Mia sneered, leaning against the locker next to them. "What are you even wearing? Did you raid a thrift store or something?"

The girls looked down at their outfits, shame and embarrassment written all over their faces. Mia cackled with laughter as she sauntered away, leaving the girls feeling small and belittled.

Mia reveled in the power she held over her classmates now, enjoying the feeling of superiority it gave her. She didn't care who she hurt or what she said, as long as she was getting attention and causing chaos.

Heidi loved watching Mia at work but was starting to feel more and more on the receiving end of her wrath. She was feeling left out of the fun Heidi was having. Mia bossed Heidi around like she was some lackey but worse still was Heidi followed her commands obediently. Heidi didn’t want to get on the bad side of the girl who was clearly running the show now. That was until Mia started to make new friends.

It started small with a girl called Daphne, a shy, unassuming girl who Mia took an interest in one day. Heidi watched as Mia belittled Daphne like she had done to a dozen other girls that week but when Daphne failed to scurry away like the rest Mia smirked at Daphne and told her to come with her to the bathroom. Heidi naturally followed but Mia told her to wait outside.

They were in the bathroom for 10 minutes before re-emerging and when they did Daphne looked different. Mia had clearly shared her makeup and clothes with her but Daphne also had a mean glint in her eye that Heidi recognized from Mia. Daphne whispered something in Mia’s ear upon seeing Heidi waiting for them and Mia laughed deeply. The two girls walked off with locked arms like Heidi and Lara used to do.

And so it went for the next week where Mia would start collecting what she called ‘discarded girls’ and would bring them into the bathroom where they would emerge minutes later bitchier and hotter than when they went in. Mia now had a clique of sycophants praising her endlessly and laughing at her jokes. Mia roamed the halls with them flanking her at all times. Heidi was now bringing up the rear, sidelined in the school she once ran, constantly being belittled by the new queen she helped create. When one day Mia gave her a particular dressing down in front of her clique in the locker room, Heidi finally snapped.

“Who they hell do you think you are talking to bitch? Know your place!” Heidi said full of rage. Mia simply giggled at her, seemingly unfazed by her outburst.

“My place? I’m the queen of this god damn school and you’re barely even a blip anymore.” Mia said with a laugh that caused her gang of girls to follow suit.

“We’ll enjoy it while it lasts because those nails have a shelf life and you’ll be hitting your expiration date soon enough. I’ve seen your house and know you can’t afford another session, you can’t even afford a car to get you to school every day.” Heidi said with venom behind every syllable. For the first time in awhile Heidi saw the smirk be wiped from Mia’s face. Rather than feeling triumphant though, Heidi felt her blood run cold as Mia stared at her intensely.

Mia snapped her fingers and her clique rushed Heidi pinning her down on the locker room floor. Mia click clacked slowly over to her, savouring the moment.

“I’ve seen how you live too and it begs the question how do you afford to stay as powerful as you do but you’re going to tell me all of your secrets.” Mia said bending down close to Heidi.

“Like hell I am.” Heidi said still defiant but feeling like she had lost.

“Oh dear you don’t really have a choice.” Mia said with a wink as she ran her hand up Heidi’s thigh, across her stomach and up to her neck where she dug her nails in suddenly. Heidi wanted to scream out but found herself unable to do so. She heard Mia’s voice in her head telling her to do things she would never do but was feeling strangely compelled to do so.

LATER

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Aimee said on the other end of the phone not really believing what she was hearing.

“Oh yes Aimee. I’m moving away and it’s only right that someone gets my lifetime of nails. I can’t think of anyone more suited than Mia. You’ll love her.” Heidi said as Mia watched on approvingly. Heidi loved that Mia was making her give up her power. Heidi knew now that she didn’t deserve them. Not like Mia who did. She deserved everything.

“Ok if you insist. I look forward to meeting her.” Aimee said scratching Heidi out of her client book and replacing her with Mia.

“Just one other thing. She has requested that Evie do her nails. Is that ok?” Heidi asked.

“Well Evie doesn’t do nails anymore after an… incident we had but if your friend really wants her I guess we can make an exception this one time.” Aimee said while looking over at a bored Evie working reception. Maybe it was time to bring her back into the fold.

“Great. Thanks for everything Aimee!” Heidi said before hanging up.

“Was that to your liking Mistress?” Heidi asked eager to please Mia now. Mia for her part looked satisfied if a little diminished. Turning Heidi against herself proved to be very draining for Mia and she would need a nail session very soon. But she knew she still had a little time and figured the best way to spend it would be watching Heidi willingly remove her own magic nails.

A WEEK LATER

“These are gorgeous, I feel refreshed. Thanks Evie.” Mia said as Evie finished putting on a fresh set of nails for her. They looked even stronger and bitchier than before, Mia couldn’t wait to try them out.

“Don’t get into too much trouble now.” Evie said with a smirk to Mia who returned the smile.

“You ready girls?” Mia said to her friends who had just finished getting their nails done too. Of course Mia’s set was unique to her but she made sure her girls got some cheaper beta nails to save her having to infect them every time her power was warring off.

“What about her over there, she hasn’t had her turn yet.” Evie said pointing to the corner when a somewhat homely girl stood holding everyone’s bags.

“Who? Hedy? No she won’t be getting any. She won’t until she’s learned her lesson isn’t that right Hedy?” Mia called out to the girl once known as Heidi.

“That’s right mistress.” Hedy replied cheerily. One by one Aimee watch the transformed girls take their bags from Hedy and leave the store. Of course she was happy for the business but something wasn’t sitting right with her about Mia and her friends and something was so familiar about Hedy.

Mia left the salon her head held high and her chest sticking out as her friends waited for her orders. She loved being the queen and no one was taking that away from her now. How could they when she was nailing it?

THE END

#f2f #corruption #bitchification #magic #corrupted nails #evil bitch #power transfer #unofficial sequel #cc2023

Beatrice Santello - Part 2 #11

Image by ottoOttsy

Cemetery and Proposal

The service was a melancholy affair as a warm spring rain fell outside the chapel at the church, but Bea felt like that was appropriate. The casket, of course, was closed, but she greeted both Mr. and Mrs. Hartley. Pastor K. said a brief few words and both Mae and Gregg were blessedly subdued.

Bea said goodbye to her friends after the service as they weren’t feeling like going to the burial, but it had been a while since Bea had spent time with her mother so she turned on her car’s lights and followed the train of cars to the cemetery. The rain had stopped and the grave site was covered by a tent anyway, so other than getting a little mud on her boots, it was alright. Casey’s parents were reserved as could be expected, considering they were burying their son.

She’d managed to keep her composure until they lowered the casket into the ground, but memories of her mother’s burial came flooding back and she was unable to hold back the tears any longer. All the assurances of the afterlife and that the dead person’s soul lived forever didn’t help. She left shortly after and walked back to her car where she got out the flowers she’d bought earlier, then walked back to where her mother’s headstone stood up stark against the wet ground.

“Hi Mom,” she said quietly to the grave. “I brought you some flowers. Damn, I hope you’re there somewhere. They just buried Casey. I never really told you about him, did I? I don’t know if you, like, know my mind. I hope not. It would be embarrassing. But I think I was in love with him. Well, really I know I was. He was killed by some nut jobs here, but I’d broken up with him before that because he brought drugs and stuff into the Pickaxe. Casey, if you can hear me too… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so hard on you.”

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to shut off the shudders that were coming on - a sure prelude to another round of crying. It worked.

“Anyway, Mom, Dad’s doing alright I guess. We miss you. I miss you. I’ve got enough for the lease on the building, inventory and taxes this month. Still can’t hire Germ full time, though. Bill’s still there, but I keep him out of the store as much as I can. He hasn’t done anything for a long time though, so I think it’s okay. Sorry I haven’t been back more often.”

A little while later, she stood up again and brushed the mud off her knees. She looked over to where Casey’s grave was. Workmen were taking down the tent and two other men were shoveling more dirt over it, filling it in. Everyone else had left. She took a flower from her mom’s bouquet and walked back to where the shovelers were just finishing up.

There was no headstone, so she just dropped the flower over the mound.

“The headstone will be installed next week,” said a voice she recognized behind her. She didn’t turn around.

“Hi Pastor K. Why are you still here?”

“Oh, I guess I’m like you. I know a lot of people buried here. You cared a lot about Casey, didn’t you?”

It was more a statement than a question. Bea just nodded.

“I know I’m supposed to tell you he’s in a better place and all that, Bea. But even us religious people don’t know for sure of course. I suppose no one alive does. That’s why they call it ‘faith’ I guess.”

“Do you have faith? Do you think he’s still around… somewhere?”

“I have faith. It’s all we have, Bea. Still agnostic I suppose? I don’t suppose I could talk you into coming to service some day?”

“I’d feel like a hypocrite, Pastor K.”

“We’re all hypocrites, Bea. We do the best we can though. I think someday you’ll be a regular - but you have to find your own way home first.”

Bea turned around to face the diminutive pastor, anger flashing in her eyes.

“I can’t believe in your God, Pastor. A decent God wouldn’t allow things like this. And don’t give me that Mysterious Ways crap. The only God that would allow this doesn’t give a shit about us. Surely you know that!”

“We’re alive, Bea. He’s not, but we are.”

“We’re just amoebas. Scum on the surface of the earth.”

“Now you’re just venting. It’s okay, Bea. Venting is good sometimes. Did you love him?”

Bea turned back to the grave, imagining the bones underneath it.

“Yes.”

“Do you think you just loved an amoeba? We’re more than that, Bea. If we weren’t, we wouldn’t hurt so bad.”

“I don’t believe in your religion, Pastor Karen, but I’m coming to understand the need for it at least. I’m glad you’re here. You help people get over things like this.”

“I try to help people cope, Bea, but no one gets over it. Death and religion are inseparable.”

“I saw him, Pastor. Down there in the mine. For just a minute, I thought I saw him. I was probably imagining it though.”

“Could be. Your mother believed, Bea.”

“Didn’t do her much good, did it.”

“I don’t know. She went through a lot, Bea, and not just the illness. She believed, and she loved you and your father an awful lot. I think her faith helped her get through each day.”

“Careful, Pastor K. My mom is a touchy subject with me, okay?”

“Okay Bea. But if you ever need to talk… you know where I am.”

“Don’t hold your breath,” Bea said.

As if on cue, the rain began again. Pastor Karen opened her umbrella and handed it to Bea. She took it gratefully, and held it over both their heads as they walked back to where the cars waited.

************

The police finally released their report, detailing the Black Goat cult and their sacrifices. The story rekindled interest in Possum Springs for another month, but the attention on Bea and her friends who had first found the sacrifices waned as the magnitude of the crime was revealed. But even that horrific revelation soon faded from the public eye since all had apparently died in the cave-in and there would be no trial to focus attention on the murders.

Bea didn’t know any of the members well, and she was glad of that. Angus apparently knew one of them as a former co-worker at the Video Outpost II, but they’d never been friendly.

Spring had begun to turn towards summer when a man walked into the Pickaxe that Bea recognized immediately. This time, however, he wasn’t posing as a customer, nor did he attempt to surreptitiously record her inventory on his phone. Instead he walked up to the counter.

“Hello Bea, do you remember me?”

Germ wasn’t there that day, but Mae was in the warehouse cleaning up after a recent delivery.

“Mister video. Here to finish the job?”

The old gator smiled. “Oh Bea, we finished that ages ago. We know all about your business. Things have really picked up since the mine thing, haven’t they?”

It was true enough. Though the mine was well sealed now, there were plenty of caves in the area too and spelunking in the area had really picked up. She had taken advantage of the renewed interest by stocking a wide variety of climbing and caving hardware and becoming familiar with their use. She cringed now, thinking back to. the amateurish methods they had used back then, and how lucky they’d been not to have hurt themselves.

“We’re doing alright. What do you want Mr. Video?”

“The name is Brown. Hamilton Brown. I work for a competitor of yours, MISS Santello.”

The guy had done his homework.

“I see. And why shouldn’t I kick you out again right now, Mr. Brown?”

He reached into his jacket and brought forth a manila envelope.

“We want to buy you out, Bea.”

Bea looked at the envelope. It was thick with papers.

“Not much of a competitor if you just buy out the competition.”

“Look through those papers tonight before you reject our offer out of hand. We’ve already bought the land out by the Interstate. Groundbreaking will commence soon. As soon as the news hits, this offer will be rescinded.”

Bea’s eyes opened wide. “Home Badger.”

Mr. Brown nodded. “Bea, we will put you out of business and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. You know it already. But we have a proposal for you. An absurdly lucrative proposal, given your revenue. But we do our research too. Somehow, even as young as you are, you’ve amassed quite a lot of good will here in Possum Springs. Especially after finding those kids’ bodies. Good will is a valuable and very tangible thing. We’re willing to pay for it.”

“So, what’s your angle, Mr. Brown? You just want to buy the Pickaxe, and shut it down?”

“There are those who had intended something like that. But they’ve been overruled. No, Bea. We want to buy the Pickaxe and keep it open - as an extension of the new mega-store Home Badger. We’ll even keep the name. ‘The Ol’ Pickaxe - Your Neighborhood Store, by Home Badger’. You may not have noticed, but the downtown area here is going through something of a renaissance. We’d like to be a part of that.”

“I already am a part of that,” Bea said, sliding the envelope back. “I’ll take my chances, thanks.”

“Bea,” said Mr. Brown, sliding the envelope back again. “Please, take a look. We’re not your enemy - or at least we don’t have to be. We can be your partner, if you’ll consider it. Bea, it may take a year or two, but eventually your business is going to fade as your customers begin to abandon you. You could keep the doors open, but your profits will dwindle even more. You’re barely making ends meet now, and that’s with… shall we say… questionable employment practices. It will only get worse. Please, consider it. Talk it over with your father.”

Bea’s natural reaction was to fight it. But time had tamed her tendencies to snap judgments.

She looked at the old gator. Underneath his polished exterior, his eyes looked bright.

“Do you get a bonus if I agree, Mr. Brown?”

“Of course I do. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a good deal. I think you’ll agree when you read the details. You’ll want to hire a lawyer to go over the fine print, but I’m confident there’s nothing in there that you’ll be opposed to.”

“It’s not my store, you know,” Bea said, but she took the envelope and put it on a shelf under the counter.

“No, but it might as well be. Your father isn’t well. You’ve done very good by him, but he’s not getting better. He needs help, Bea. Professional help. And not by your Dr. Hanks. This could provide that help.”

“At the cost of the business he worked all his life to build,” Bea responded, but without much heat. She wasn’t so sure.

“Read the offer, Bea. It’s only the first two pages that covers all the major points.”

“The devil is in the details though.”

“That’s what lawyers are for, but I don’t think you’ll find any devils in here. You know what we want, Bea. We’re willing to pay handsomely for it. What we really want is your goodwill. We don’t want the people in and around Possum Springs to see us as big-city interlopers. We want to be your partner. But yes, we would own the Pickaxe.”

“Get out of my store, Mr. Brown.”

He nodded and produced a card. It had only his name and a phone number printed on it, but the background color was the unmistakable hue of the Home Badger. She took it and slid it in with the other papers in the envelope as he left.

Mae came in from the back.

“Who was that?”

Bea looked up from the envelope. When she’d opened it to insert the card, she’d seen a number on the first page. A very, very large number.

“Huh? Oh. That’s Mr. Brown. Nothing important.”

#bea santello #beatrice santello #nitw #night in the woods #fanfiction #unofficial sequel #mae borowski #pastor karen