This year has been chaotic enough that I completely blew past the 1 year anniversary of this story without even realizing it. What started as a lark has grown into something so much more, and I can't thank all of you enough for reading, commenting on, and supporting my writing. You've given me so much motivation and energy, which have become especially valuable commodities in 2020. So thank you again, and please stay safe and sane out there. For me <3
--Mesmerciless
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Chapter 14
Chelsea hurried into the Undergrind Café, its warm glow drawing a relieved sigh from her shivering body. She lowered her umbrella, careful not to splash herself as she shook rain droplets from its canvas. Not that it really mattered much: even with a full raincoat and umbrella, the storm outside had still managed to drench her boots and splatter on her tights. Choosing the Undergrind as the drop-off point had seemed like a fun way to tease Master at the time, but now Chelsea felt like the butt of her own joke. Only a fool would choose to walk over a mile in this downpour.
At least she knew it would be worth it.
Rain splattered on the windowpanes, transforming the outside world into a blur of grey streaks and wavering silhouettes. In some ways, it really did feel like Chelsea had entered a different reality. After the chaos of the storm, the quiet of the café felt almost surreal, its scattered clientele still and silent behind barricades of textbooks and laptops. Chelsea found herself measuring her steps as she moved past them, trying not to seem too hurried or too excited. Such a precaution probably wasn't necessary, but she couldn't help it: a giddy mixture of anxiety and desire bubbled inside her, naughty anticipation spiked with fear. It was the same feeling she felt approaching Master's dorm room for the first time, that sensation of being on a cliff's edge, unsure of what lay at the bottom, but too curious to resist jumping.
This time, though, it was different. This was her plan. On her terms. She was in control.
Even if she couldn't calm her racing heart.
She knocked on the bathroom door, then stifled a relieved sigh when no one answered. After entering and making sure to lock the door behind her, she paused, scanning the cramped space. Wondering if it would spark anything.
Nope, nothing—it seemed like a simple unisex bathroom to her. As hard as she tried, she couldn't remember Master taking her back here. Couldn't remember him pulling her into a deep, obedient trance, so complete that she would offer her very memory to him. A part of her knew it must've happened: since meeting Sophia was the only gap in her recollection of that day, Master must've entranced her while they were still in the café. If that were the case, it would stand to reason he would manipulate her into the bathroom for privacy.
Yet try as she might, standing here right now, Chelsea couldn't honestly say for certain if it had happened or not. Master's brainwashing was too thorough. Her subconscious obeyed his whims too perfectly. Both thoughts sent dreadful, wonderful shivers through her.
Now it was time to see if he was as good at following orders as she was.
Chelsea gingerly opened the back of the toilet, careful to lift the top only an inch at a time. It didn't take more than two before she saw it: a strip of scotch tape on the lip of the lid. If she hadn't been looking for it, if she had been, say, an employee opening the tank to clean it, she would've accidentally torn the tape in the process, causing what it was holding to drop into the water.
But Chelsea knew what she was looking for. She knew how to carefully slip her fingers inside, holding the hidden object in place as she lifted the lid the rest of the way, tearing the tape and the object free. An excited grin spread across her lips as she drew her hand back out. She opened her fingers, revealing a simple black flash drive cradled in her palm. To others, it might've looked like an ordinary storage device, but Chelsea knew what it really was: a crucible for the Vox. And a gateway to victory.
It was just as she had planned. She had recovered the recording of Master's power, without risking confrontation or discovery.
Now it was time to put it to good use.
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"Seriously?" Miki exclaimed, so loud Seb worried the whole thrift store could hear her. "You still don't know what you're gonna dress up as?"
"I uh, guess it kinda slipped my mind," Seb laughed uneasily, rummaging through a rack of wrinkled button-ups. In truth, if Miki hadn't invited him to go costume hunting, he probably would've forgotten about Halloween entirely. Not that he would admit such blasphemy out loud.
Tobias chuckled. "Not everyone takes it as seriously as you do, babe. Maybe Seb's just not a Halloween person."
"Impossible," Miki shook her head. "No self-respecting theater kid could be anti-Halloween."
Seb sighed. "I never said I was anti-Halloween. I've just had a lot on my mind."
"Good thing I invited you then," Miki smirked. "Otherwise you would've gone as 'most boring person at the party' by default."
Seb scoffed in exaggerated offense, eliciting a snicker from his friends. In truth, he was grateful for Miki's initiative. Trawling a thrift store for costume pieces was just the kind of distraction he needed.
It had been a strange, unsettling week. After recording and hiding the Vox induction on Sunday, all Seb could do was wait and see what Chelsea's next move would be. But outside of instructional emails, the scheming blonde had gone radio silent. Worse still, she had started hiding from him in class, ducking away into other pockets of students or skipping their mutual lectures entirely. It was a marked contrast to her previous strategy of teasing, stalking, and outright groping him every chance she got. Seb told himself he should be relieved, but, in truth, her sudden absence from his life was...
Well, it made Seb anxious.
And, if he was really honest with himself...a little disappointed.
Which was why he had leapt at the chance to join Miki's annual costume caper. It was a return to normalcy and routine, a reminder that a world existed outside of his insane, psychosexual struggles. Mind control powers or no, Halloween was still two weeks away. Miki was still taking the Diepner Players' costume party too seriously. "The Monster Mash" and "Thriller" were still playing on loop over the PA. Life went on.
"Really, though," Seb cleared his throat, "thanks for bringing me along. And for inviting Sophia too. I know it means a lot to her."
Miki nodded, even as her lips curved into a thoughtful frown. "I still don't really get her deal, but she seems nice. Nicer than I expected anyway."
"What this?" Tobias exclaimed with sarcastic shock. "Miki, admitting she jumped to conclusions? It's a Halloween Miracle!"
"Very funny," Miki shoved a jean jacket against his chest. "Why don't you take a break from being a smartass and try this on? We're not calling it a day till your costume's complete."
"What are you guys going as again?" Seb asked as he watched Tobias sulk towards the changing stations.
"John and Claire from
The Breakfast Club
," Miki sighed, plucking a pink blouse from the rack. "Assuming I can find a top that doesn't look like I'm swimming in it. Oh!" Her eyes lit up. "We could go as a group! You could be Brian, and Sophia could be Allison! She already kinda has the hair for it."
"Uh, maybe." Seb rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't think she's seen the movie though."
"That crime can be addressed later," Miki pointed a warning a finger at him. "What's important now is that we figure out your costume pronto. So start looking, alright? And no cheating this year."
"Cheating?" Seb arched an eyebrow. "How do you cheat at a Halloween costume?"
"By throwing on a random sweater and saying you're Mr. Rogers," Miki shot back. "Not gonna fly this year, Sebastian. Be better."
