#arc28

Surrounded by the endless nothing, my mind slowly decayed from the monotony of it all, but what made it all the worse was that repugnant bear floating just out of my reach. I needed to escape, but failing to do so physically, I turned my mind to my vessel.

Annabelle, or Circe I should say, was apprehended by Sanctuary Security. The news spread like a wildfire, and considering she was such a public figure, it shook many to their cores. People in town started referring to her as "Annabelle the Cannibelle." Horror stories, mostly made up, started to flourish on the internet. Many others were talking tough about how they 'saw it coming.'

Funerals were set for the dead. Jacob Tofu has been recognized for his sacrifice and was being given a hero's burial. His sister, Canis Tofu has been beside herself through this whole process. She has left her shop in the management of others as she takes time off to grieve. Ironic considering how her business was now booming at the vegetarian restaurant as people suddenly lost their appetites for meat.

Meanwhile, the pig was being held deep in the dungeons of the palace. She was mere hours until she was transported to the prison in town. Nearby, the tasty morsels that make up Sanctuary leadership were talking about her.

"So she's an orc, not a pig person?" Said Raina in shock.

"That is correct," explained Lord Panchi. "it appears she had some... procedures done to have her appear more piggish than orcish."

"Huh, throw that on the list of surprises I guess." Anne snarked. "So is that a wrap then? I don't see much reason to continue to keep her under the palace."

"There's still some puzzle pieces missing." The minutian added. "Why can she sometimes hear narration? Based on her background she has no divinity in her at all."

"...speaking of narration, who the heck is narrating right now? I don't recognize that voice."

Panchi stamped their foot in frustration. "Oh come on! Point something out like that sooner! I can't hear it!"

"Why does that voice give me an antsy feeling all the sudden?"

"How would I know?!"

"I mean, you're the detective!"

While the pair argued, the Monster Princess was lost in thoughts, her gaze fixated on the pig. Before she knew it, she found herself walking towards the criminal.

That was until Belle cut through her trance with a question. "You want to destroy me, don't you?" 

Raina stopped in her tracks. "W-what?"

"That's the look of someone who wants to erase a problem. I've made it many times before. I've known you as the more pragmatic type, just like me."

"I'm literally nothing like you."

"You know," the pig continued without even registering the Princess' rebuttal, "I used to respect you. Out of all the leadership, you were the only one that had yet to fail me, but I learned about the filth in your blood."

The phrasing was starting to irk Raina. It brought her back to the racism and xenophobia of her childhood. People use words to cut like a knife, slashing until you are down to size, beneath them. At the time it was her reality, but now in retrospect, it only made her blood boil hearing it.

Seeing the look on her face, Belle only grinned. "That pissed you off, didn't it? You really are daddy's little girl."

And suddenly, the Princess was knocked back into reality. "Wait, you hate me because of Marduk?"

"That's right. You're related to the worst dragon in veil. The fact my tongue ever spoke kind words of you makes me want to vomit, yuck!"

Raina took a big breath. Being hated for her skin color or her perceived species was one thing, but she only had mixed feelings about her father. There was no skin off her nose. She turned to walk away, but it's next what Belle said that would be the biggest blow of the exchange.

"That monster ate my father. He was but a humble meat salesman in Sable Grove, and he ate him!"

An orc, in my home town, that sold meat… Raina stewed on that for a while, scrambling to connect the horrific dots. Meanwhile, the pig continued.

"You know how rough it has been to live the last 7 years without him? It's a crying shame!"

"7 years..." That was how long ago since the Princess left Sable Grove, on that fateful day when she was led into a dark alley by an orc, one that was selling meat… As soon as she made the connection, she turned around and glared at the orc lady.

She recoiled. "How DARE you look at me that way! Is this how you treat criminals in this town?"

"Your father took my arm..."

"What?"

Raina strutted far into Belle's personal space, rage boiling up through her body. "Your father cut off my arm!" She jammed the half missing appendage in the orc's face. "He did that!"

The pig looked at the arm, then at Raina, then at the arm, and her once again. Then without changing her expression, without a hint of remorse in her voice, she said, "You deserved it."

And with that, the Princess snapped. She threw a punch straight into Belle's face. Then she extended her hair and punched her with that, too. Punch, punch, there goes a tooth. Punch, punch, she's now bleeding. It took this long for Panchi and Anne to pull her away, but by then, Belle was a swollen bloody mess.

Hours later and after treatment, Belle would be in Sanctuary Penitentiary, given top security right out the gate. She was locked in a tower far off the ground, with only a window and the occasional state sanctioned therapist to keep her company, not that she talked much anymore. Days, maybe even weeks would go by, and while her wounds would heal, her heart was forever crushed. She prided herself in the fact she managed to evade authorities, but now that was gone, and all that was left was a defeated husk. She was a corpse, waiting desperately for the day she died.

Who knows how long it's been now, but in her constant depression, she would have a moment of clarity and glanced up into the stars above from her window. Her eyes couldn't see it, but her mind could reach all the way out into the nothing, where I'm waiting for her.

Do not worry, my vessel. It is too dangerous for us to be together right now, not with the demon war on the horizon, but soon, you will not be alone. The two of us will join and we will hand out the revenge we so rightfully deserved. We will bathe in their blood and feast on their bodies. It’ll be our great reward!

My precious origin story, just hold out. Our time is to come!

-----

My head was held high after my great success in obtaining more meat. I did my job more diligently than usual, knowing that I now can live without worry of being caught.

And it's exactly when my guard was down that SHE entered my store. Lord Panchi, the thorn in my side for so goddamn long. Is she here to finally admit defeat?

"Hello there, Annabelle. Coozin asked me to get some beef for tonight's dinner."

And it turned out to be something mundane. I sighed. "How much?"

"Four pounds. A lot of mouths to feed, especially with a grown child around."

Ugh, I didn't want to hear about her lackee child, and just as I was thinking that, Coozin entered the store pulling that very kid behind her.

Lord Panchi was surprised to see the pair. "What brought you two here?"

"Oh, I forgot to ask you to get some ground chuck. We'll need that for the burgers."

The lord pressed her hand against her forehead. "Ohhh right, you need multiple meats for that! I completely forgot!"

This was so fucking inane it was painful to watch. It didn't help that the lackee was right there in front of me. That kid creeps me the hell out. The fact her upper torso has the same skin color as Panchi makes me think she had an affair with lackee and this was the result. Hell, her leg fur was even the same color as her 'Papa's' hair! It's FREAKY!

Suddenly, Coozin gave me a dirty look. I shot her glare back. "What?"

The bunny sighed and ordered her meat. "1 pound ground chuck, 4 pounds steak, please."

As I went to grab the meat she ordered, the lord made herself comfortable at the counter. "It's a shame all your dates perished the other day. My condolences."

"Yeah, it sucks." I barely knew them, so their deaths didn't actually matter to me.

"It's certainly weird though."

I nodded along as I packaged the meat.

"It's just, all three of them walked right into a wolf's maw, but you only encountered the creature on the third day."

"Well, clearly the wolf ran off with the other two corpses considering they haven't been found yet."

"Oh yeah, that sounds about right." She nodded. 

I simply rolled my eyes as I finished packing the meat and dropped it in front of the rabbit. However, she only glanced up to me and said, "Also, I require 5 pounds of chicken. Would you get that please?"

I groaned, making it loud enough for both of them to hear. She was clearly fucking with me now. They both were. With the chef here, there’s little reason for the cop to stick around.

"You know, we couldn't find any trace of you heading towards the meet-up place for the dates. No footprints. Are you using some sort of concealing magic?"

It was almost a force of habit to cover my tracks. Not after almost getting caught in the monster kingdom. "I'm a beautiful young woman walking around at night, precautions are necessary." I gave her a look. "Why are you so interested in my footprints? You know the wolf is a killer, why are you looking into me?"

"Oh, don't worry ma'am, we are just covering our bases. Got to be thorough, you know how it is."

The fucker still thinks I did it. Well, she has nothing on me. This was only cause for suspicion, it's not enough to justify fully investigating me. Hell, this isn't even enough for a warrant. I'm in the clear! She lost, I won!

I finished packing the chicken and plopped it in front of Coozin. "Here is your chicken."

The robot bunny looked at the price, paid with her phone, and grabbed her meat. "Hey, Panchi, care to help me carry these?"

"Oh, I guess that's my cue to head out. Sorry for using up your time, ma'am!" She took half of the meat and the small ‘family’ left my shop.It was only later that it hit me. They have servants, why did they come to buy from here directly?

I was shaken enough from my encounter with the cop that I used it as an excuse to go to the tavern after closing. A slime man named Stinger Slim is running the bar. "Hello ma'am what can I get you?"

"Whisky on the rocks." I said and my drink was quickly made for me.

Just as I was getting settled in my seat, I heard a jingle at the door. I turned to spot the bane of my evening, Lord Panchi had stepped through the entrance. She immediately laid her eyes on me. "My what a coincidence seeing you here!"

"Are you stalking me?"

"Nah, this is purely a coincidence." As she plopped herself in the stool right next to me. "Bartender! Club soda please!"

"Lord Panchi?" The slime man was shocked for a moment when he saw the literal lord at his bar. Eventually he regained his senses. "Of course! Right away!"

She turned to me. "Heh, I'm always on call."

"Of course you are."

"So gotta stay off the alcohol. Plus, what kind of role model would I be for my kid if I came home with booze on my breath."

Oh what a responsible parent. Barf. If I ever wound up with a child, I'd eat 'em.

The lord got her drink and started taking small sips. "By the way, I've been thinking about footprints since our last conversation."

"Oh yeah?" I said halfheartedly.

"When we found the torn apart third date, there were no paw prints heading there. It's as if the wolf appeared out of nowhere."

And suddenly I felt a lump in my throat. This was the first time she said anything more than circumstantial. "Oh uh," I tried to think up an excuse, but I was coming up empty, "th-that is pretty weird now that you mention it."

"Yeah, in fact, considering that a wolf has attacked three people on three separate days, we've found no wolf tracks at all in the area."

I remained silent. I didn't know what to say to that. God, why didn't I make fake paw prints? No, it wouldn't have come off as natural!

"Heh, it's a lot like how you can hide your foot prints."

"Uh, yeah, I guess it's kinda like that." Shit shit shit!

Suddenly, there was a chirp. Lord Panchi pulled out her phone. "Oh, looks like I'm needed elsewhere. Like I said, always on call."

"Yeah, it appears so."

She paid for her drink and jumped out of her chair and made her way out of the exit. But before I could breathe a sigh of relief, she suddenly whipped around. "Oh just one more thing. I was suspicious about that whole 'lack of footprints thing' so I had Raina check out the area. Apparently teleportation magic was used. That's pretty wild."

And now I was sweating. "Heh, heh, that's pretty wild yeah!"

"Well, good night ma'am!" And she left out those doors.

As soon as she disappeared into the darkness of the night, I bolted out of the bar, not even bothering to pay.

Lord Panchi was close, TOO CLOSE! I'm so used to not leaving footprints I hadn't even considered how weird it looked for a savage wolf to not leave any. Now she was closer than ever to busting me! I had no choice, I had to go home and destroy the meat! It'll be a pain to live without it, but not being caught is more important right now.

I rushed all the way home, I unlocked the door to the basement and made my way down. I made a beeline for the hidden safe, inputted the passkey and...

"It's gone!" The meat had completely vanished!

"Are you missing something?"

I whipped around and Lord Panchi was STANDING RIGHT BEHIND ME!

"What are you- HOW ARE YOU...?"

But instead she looked all around her. "You all can come out!"

And suddenly a number of Sanctuary Security appeared out of nowhere, apparently using the same hiding spell I used on the safe. Among them was Princess Raina Adelaide, who strutted her way over to the minutian. "It's confirmed, the wolf was teleported from here."

"And the claw marks all over the basement are also pretty incriminating. Don't you think, miss Annabelle?" She furrowed her brow. "Or should I say, Circe, the cannibal serial killer? Authorities in Monster Kingdom will be impressed by your capture, no doubt!" (Chapter 54.5 Halloween bonus)

I couldn't stand for this! This couldn't be the end! "Sanctuary has RULES! Where's your search warrant!"

"Right here!" She held up her phone to present the warrant for me to see.

"...T-TYRANNY! There's no way you had enough evidence to get that! You must have pulled some strings!"

Lord Panchi chuckled and shook her head. "You know, I've been on to you for a long time. I announced specifically that I suspected foul play in a number of disappearances last year in order to flush you out. (Chapter 60) And when you suddenly cleaned up your act soon after, you became a person of interest in this case." (Chapter 62)

"I know all this already! It was so obvious you were tailing me!"

"Oh, I knew you were on to us, that's why I had your little club infiltrated."

"I know about that, too! Second was obviously a plant!" I yelled.

"Oh no, Second was the decoy spy."

"De-decoy spy?!?"

Lord Panchi grinned. "I knew you'd be looking for cop sympathizers, so Second was added in to throw you off our trail. No, the real spy was Jacob the wolf."

I was stunned. "Jacob... JACOB WAS A SPY THIS WHOLE TIME?!?"

"It was because of him we knew about your victim in Annesville. (Chapter 80.5 Valentines Bonus) If only security down there hadn't been in complete disarray because of the dragons, we would have nailed you all the way back then, and by the time I headed down there, the trail had gone cold." (Chapter 117)

I was stunned. Jacob... I should have seen it coming! The way his views align so perfectly with mine! He was trying to get close to me!

"When we heard about your upcoming dates, we knew you were going to strike again. However, the pig men you asked out wouldn't say where you were going to meet. When you requested Jacob come to your restaurant, I ordered him to find out where the meet up location would be, but he never returned." Lord Panchi held something in her hand. It was a glass, the same one Jacob drank his milkshake out of. "He must have known there was RAGE in his drink, but he drank it anyway. I don't know why he did that, but I hope his sister will forgive me someday."

She let out a heavy sigh, but then she turned towards me with a look of conviction. "But because of his sacrifice, we had everything we needed to take you down. The lack of footprint, the subtle confessions in your narration when Coozin was in the shop earlier, everything we built up was enough to get a warrant, and the rest was history."

I didn't know what to say anymore. It was over. I was defeated.

Once upon a time, there were three little pig men who were madly in love with a swine beauty, ME! Yes, I, Annabelle, owner of the meat shop in town, was their object of desire! Though this was a major boost to my ego, it was also kind of annoying because they would constantly come by my shop in an attempt to woo me, which would always lead to a fight and disrupt my business in the process.

"I am worthy of the fair lady!" Shouted a tall thin pig person named Francis with a FABULOUS french accent!

"No way, pencil dick! She needs someone that could protect her!" Grumbled a pig named Metal who's absolutely RIPPED body was barely contained in his wife beater.

"No, clearly she needs someone smart! A business owner could use an accountant husband like me!" Said a small pig in glasses and a bow tie named Digit.

Every day, they'd come to flirt with me and then start butting heads. It was getting so old.

"She needs class!"

"She needs abs!"

"She needs brains!"

"SHUT UP!" I yelled, and all three swiveled towards me in surprise. It was time to put an end to this, so I held up my hand with three fingers up. "Three dates, one pig each, one night after the other. The one that impresses the most gets to date me."

The three got excited at my suggestion.

"I know a fancy candlelit dinner I can take you on."

"Oh, going to flaunt your money to woo the lady?"

But I once again raised my hands to stop them before they continued. "To make it fair, all three dates will be a walk by the woods. Then you can show me your personality, which is truly important in a relationship." This was a lie, I like money almost as much as meat, but a walk by the woods benefited me the most right now.

"Excellent idea, madam!" Francis exclaimed.

"Then everything will be even. My peak performance body will do all the talking."

"My analytical brain will impress you most of all, Annabelle!"

With the plan solidified, I went with this order:

Digit would be the first night,

Francis would be the second night.

And Metal will be the final night.

The three left my store more than satisfied and excited for their shot at my heart!

It was the day of the first date, I had called Jacob to my store during my lunch break. I served him some mutton. "Fresh meat from the conjurator!" I lied.

"Thank you, Belle!" He said as he cut into the meat. "You're cooking is the best!"

"Hehe, naturally!"

He gleefully chowed down. "But I assume you didn't just call me over for a meal."

"Heh... Yeah, you understand me well."

He swallowed his latest bite. "Well, I'm all ears!" He maintained eye contact as he ate more of the sheep meat.

I smiled. He truly was a best friend. "Honestly, I have a date tonight and I'm just, a little bit nervous is all."

"Oh? That's a surprise coming from you. What brought this about?"

I explained the plan I made with the three guys.

"Huh, that's one way to resolve a harem I guess..."

"It's just... no matter what, I'll be in a relationship by the end of this. Part of me is just terrified to be emotionally available to someone again."

"You seem to open up to me just fine."

"Well, yeah! You're you. It's just..." I sighed heavily. "I used to live in the Monster Kingdom. I dated a lot of people, many pig people, all were perfect, total snacks! But what did meeting all those people lead to?" I slammed my cloven hand onto the counter, startling the wolfman. "Resentment! Nothing but trouble! I fear the same thing will happen in Sanctuary."

It was nothing but a nuisance. Those freaks would never leave me alone. It was the entire reason I had to move to this socialist hellscape.

Jacob contemplated for a long while before cautiously giving his advice. "There's a huge difference this time. You've learned and grown haven't you? That's going to affect how things play out, I know it!"

I play shocked at his candidness. "Y-you certain?”

"Yes, you are a kind hearted, warm individual with a determination up the wazoo! What guy wouldn't go for that!"

My heart stirred at his words, or at least that's how I presented it. I smiled at him. "It's a shame you're a wolf person. We would have made for a great couple."

"Yeah..." And he fell silent.

I may have depressed him, but I knew just what would cheer him up. I mixed together his favorite: a chocolate milkshake. "Here. This is thanks for everything." I placed it in front of him, grinning at him from ear to ear.

He beamed. "Thank you."

The days came and went. Next thing I knew, it was already the day of the third date. I was tending to the shop as usual that morning when Metal entered.

"Are you ready for our date tonight, babe?" He grinned.

"You know it! I'm looking forward to it!"

"You'll see soon, I'll blow those first two dates out of the water!"

My smile suddenly strained. "Actually, that won't be difficult as the first two were no shows."

"Really? Heh, I guess they knew they hadn't had a chance against a HUNK like me!"

"That's for sure!"

He would flex for the rest of the morning.

That night, I closed up the shop, spent an hour cleaning, wiping down the countertops and the blades. When my work was done, I got dolled up, putting on a flowy dress that barely reached my thighs and put on my make-up. I also stuck a knife in my stocking, you never knew what you might encounter in the woods, even I’m not fully certain. Just as the sun was going down, I made my way to the edge of the forest.

Just as I got there, I was hit with a sound in the distance of rustling leaves and soft whimpers. A familiar smell was in the air, the smell of blood. Fearing maybe Metal was hurt, I rushed into the woods in the direction of the sound, my dress getting caught on branches as I parted my way through.

As I got closer, I heard growls, the scratching of claws, and the whimpers were growing more and more silent. As I came closer, it came into view. Metal was in pieces on the forest floor, torn apart by a ferocious wolf. But it wasn't just any wolf. This one I knew intimately.

Before I could think, I had already shouted his name. "Jacob?!"

His ear twitched. He stopped chewing on flesh and his head tilted up, turning to glance at me. His kind eyes were gone, replaced with that of a hungry beast that only saw its next meal.

Realizing the danger I was in, I turned on the spot and ran. I could hear him behind me breaking into a sprint. The sound of his big paws coming closer and closer. I knew I wasn't going to outrun him. Realizing that, I pivoted 180 degrees on the spot and pulled out the knife from my stocking.

I saw him approaching and I readied myself. He came faster than I expected as he suddenly ran into me, knocking me to the ground. Just as he climbed on top of me, his teeth outstretched for my jugular, I stabbed into his neck, spraying blood everywhere. The creature whimpered, and then slowly faded away. It fell limp on top of me. I pushed him off and then ran for town.

I would come back with Sanctuary Security. The blue shawls I brought over inspected the wolf man.

"He was on RAGE, that drug has been going around lately."

"We recently busted the ring distributing the stuff, but I guess it was too late to save him."

"He was Jacob," I said as I teared up looking at his body, "he was a good man. He was a good friend..."

"It's a shame. I'm glad you're alright, miss."

It was late into the night and I had cleaned myself up. I should get some sleep, but I had to have some victory pork to celebrate. I unlocked the door to the basement and made my way down. In the back, there was a safe disguised into a wall that only I could see. It was perception magic. I unlocked it to reveal a magic fridge that kept meat from ever spoiling.

It was sad to see Jacob go, but considering the end result, it was worth putting RAGE in his milkshake. It was worth the marks he left in my basement as I kept him there until tonight, where I'd teleport him out near where Metal was meant to meet me. It was all worth it for this.

I took out my prize, pork, straight from a pig person. I wonder who tastes better, Digit or Francis? I thought. I decided to try Francis first.

I fried up that pork chop and plated my freshly cooked meal on the dimly lit table in the middle of my basement. I cut off a slice and brought it up to my lips, taking a bite. The juices coated my mouth with flavor. Meat from a pig was nice, but meat from a pig person was excellent!

It's a shame I had to give up Metal's body, but it was worth the sacrifice to frame Jacob for the murders of all three pigs. Besides, he would have been too tough with all those muscles.

I took another flavor filled bite. This opportunity to stock up came at the right time. I had used the last of the mutton I got from the sheep hunk in Annesville to feed Jacob the other day. I had to fill him with good food to get him on my side. I couldn't afford him seeing through me right now.

"I can't believe Sanctuary arrested my roosters! They were doing work for our god! This is religious persecution!" We were having another one of our League of Evil meetings. Friar Little has been ranting for 10 minutes about the recent arrests of his people for distributing RAGE all over town. "Religious Persecution I say! And I won't stand for it!"

Finally, the cock took his seat in a huff. Everyone in the room deflated, as if they had survived a long ordeal. Second timidly decided to speak next. "So, we still haven't found our demon lord. It's been concerning. The sudden appearance of a lackee child has been really getting everyone thinking that he may be coming soon-"

To be honest, I wasn't sure why Second still went to these meetings. He was so painfully obvious working as a spy for Sanctuary. We always knew that was his entire reason for joining, and now that he let that weird lackee child be adopted by Panchi, it's hard to even detach Second from the perception that he's a Sanctuary pawn. Does he honestly think he's fooling ANYONE?!?

"Anyways, that's all that's been going on with the lackees as of late." Second went silent.

Karma spoke next. "I've suggested to Sanctuary multiple times to have gladiatorial death matches for our criminals, but it gets shot down EVERY TIME!"

The puppet golem was always kinda unhinged. She hasn’t proclaimed wanting to try out killing people again after my talk with her, but she was always quick to toe that line, looking for a way to suggest we commit casual murder without directly saying it.

"I think we should make a sacrifice at an altar! We might be able to claim it's a religious right! HeheheheheheahahahahahahaHAHAHAAHA-" And there she goes on another one of her manic laughs. She'll be like that for a while.

Next up, Jacob the wolf anthro spoke next, trying to speak loud enough so we could hear him over the laughing.  "Sanctuary has been cracking down on no paid overtime lately. My sister has been hit hard by that. She's just not making enough to make ends meet. It's not fair!"

Jacob's sister runs a vegetarian restaurant. No wonder they struggle to make money. Everyone knows meat is where it's at!

"I've been looking at money making techniques for her. If she can be self-sufficient, she won't have to be so reliant on the socialists on top."

"Here here!" His views aligned so much with my own, it brought me so much joy every time he spoke in the group. I wish I could listen to him talk forever, but I could see the clock from where I was sitting. "And it appears we are out of time. See you all next week!"

We all got up and made our way to the exit. As we left the building, however, we were suddenly surrounded by Sanctuary Security, all donning orange uniforms, with the exception of Lord Panchi who was making her way through the small crowd in her iconic red.

"What is the meaning of this?!? I've been keeping my nose clean!"

"Believe it or not, I'm not here for you." Then she strutted up to the puppet golem. "Karma, you're under arrest for distributing RAGE to the roosters."

The felt creature simply cackled. "Hehehe, you'd have to CATCH me first!" Then she ran in a random direction, which unfortunately for her was the direction of a wall. She clashed with it, knocking her the fuck out. Security quickly jumped on her and carried her off by her arms. As she slowly gained her senses, she started laughing manically. Her laughter slowly faded into the distance as the fuzz left with her. It's a shame to see her go, but I already got what I needed from her so it's not a huge loss.

Lord Panchi gave me a harsh look before following close behind them.

"Sanctuary Security must be depraved to slander my kin." Said Friar Little. "If Lord Panchi wants to find a corrupt element in her town, she must look within and find the rot growing at the top. Hmph!" He stuck his beak into the air and waddled off.

Second was watching Lord Panchi with glittering eyes, but then he noticed me staring and quickly glanced away. Yeah, so obviously a spy.

Jacob the wolf decided to walk me home. "Well, that's another one of our group gone." I said sorrowfully.  Sanctuary kept taking away the things I love, or at least somewhat tolerate. I don't even see Apathea much anymore now that she's gotten the writer techniques down.

"Well, this is why we founded our group." Jacob explained. "We came together because we're in a land where our ideals are not accepted. We're living on the edge, it's natural we'd be oppressed."

"Heh, you're right." Sanctuary is a hell hole that values things like 'making sure people can eat and have health care' over the rights of business owners like me. We got in our positions because we are a higher caliber from the common riffraff that Sanctuary wants to coddle. We shouldn't have to worry about who we step on to get to the bag.

(AUTHOR'S NOTE: Ugh, how long do I have to write this shit?)

I glanced over at Jacob. "Did you just say something?"

"Huh, no? I was just thinking to myself just now."

I scratched my chin. "Huh, I swear I just heard someone just now."

"It's dead silent right now."

We were walking down a dark street late at night. Of course there wouldn't be anyone around. An auditory hallucination? I try to write it off as my imagination.

"Hey, Annabelle." Jacob said. "I just want you to know that if you want my support with anything at all, I'm always here to help."

I smiled. Ever since I started the League of Evil, Jacob has been super supportive of me. He's been a valuable companion, more than anyone else in our little group. I've been glad to have him around. "Thank you."

"It's no problem! What are friends for?"

He truly has been a friend to me. Which is why I will miss him when his usefulness has run out. While friends are valuable, not going to prison is something I treasure more, and Jacob could be the very person who can bail me out for good. To get someone like Lord Panchi off my back once and for all, YES, I'd sacrifice a hundred friends for that! Hence why I anonymously reported Karma. She was too much of a liability to keep around.

(AUTHOR'S NOTE: Friend of the year, huh?)

"Okay I KNOW I heard someone just then!" I glanced around frantically, looking for whoever was shit talking me. "Come out and face me, bitch!"

"Annabelle, I haven't heard anyone."

"No, for some reason I'm only hearing her! She must be using a spell or something! And she keeps going on about an 'Author's Note.' What kind of nonsense is that?"

However, I realized that Jacob wasn't beside me anymore. I turn to see him a few steps back. He had frozen in place, a long look in his eyes. "A-Author's note...?" He muttered.

"Jacob?" His behavior was weirding me out.

"I-I need to go! I'm sorry!" And he suddenly booked it, going the complete opposite direction from where his house was. Very peculiar. Maybe he was put off by my weird hallucinations. I'll need to explain to him later that I was joking.

To be honest, I was used to these sorts of things. Sometimes, when I'm alone, I feel something watching me. It's something old, something far away, something very hungry. It doesn't say anything just, watches, waits, as if waiting for its cue. Such a silly idea. If someone was watching me that closely, I'd be in prison already.