Chapter 45: Infiltration Dave’s grip on Liki’s hand tightened, his knuckles whitening as he fought the urge to yank her back down the hallway. His heart pounded in his chest, dread pooling in his stomach. The perfect set-up, he thought. Lure us to an underground room with no other exit, eliminate us without a scene. But why? Why now? It doesn’t make sense. None of this makes sense. Liki’s small hand squeezed back, her nai...

Chapter 41: Faith Dave picked up the plastic shopping bags that held their only worldly possessions. He dumped them out on the bed and took stock of the items. Liki's clothes; A hoodie, sweatpants, black jeans, a white shirt, a black hat and a fluffy pink cap, socks and underwear. His stuff; A razor, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, some socks and underwear. Some food; Bags of Wimil pellets (with a tracking device somew...

Chapter 38: Arrival The woman holding Dave in a leg lock tightened her grip, her voice sharp and incredulous. “What do you mean you're not coming?!” she barked into her hidden comm, her eyes darting toward the entrance. Before she could get an answer, the door burst open with a violent crash, the little bell above it jingling cheerfully. The absurdly chipper sound clashed with the chaos unfolding inside. Tendo stepped thr...

Chapter 34: Proposal Lin gave Dave’s hand a gentle tug, her eyes locking with his as she opened the door and slid into the back seat of the black sedan. “Come on, Dave,” she urged, patting the seat. Her voice was soft but insistent. “We just want to talk. That’s all.” The man behind him, his tone still calm and measured, added, “It’s okay. I’m not holding you at gunpoint. This is just a conversation. We’re here to help yo...

Chapter 30: Revelation With Liki dressed in her black jeans/white shirt outfit, Dave hustled her out the door of the motel. He helped Liki get in, putting their bags into the back seat, then ran to the front office to check out and drop off the key, keeping his eyes on the car the whole time, afraid to let Liki out of his sight. He ran back and he slipped into the driver’s seat of their stolen car. Liki reached over and s...

Chapter 27: Theft The stairwell door slammed shut behind them as they burst into the underground parking lot. The cold, damp air hit Dave’s face, and the dim fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting long shadows across the rows of cars. His heart was still pounding from running down six flights of stairs, but Liki’s hand in his kept him grounded. She moved with purpose, her sharp eyes scanning the area as if she wer...

Chapter 23: Choice After leaving the clothing section, Dave and Liki wandered over to the accessories aisle. Liki, wearing her new green dress under her tan jacket, lit up at the sight of colorful hats, and she immediately gravitated toward a bright pink beanie with a fluffy pom-pom on top. She giggled as she placed it on her head, the pom-pom bouncing with her movements. “What do you think?” she asked, tilting her head t...

Chapter 20: Conflagration Liki pulled herself out of the tub, water cascading down her sleek body as she reached for a towel. She carefully dried herself, her skin still tingling from the Jacuzzi’s water jets. Glancing toward the bedroom, she saw Dave’s silhouette lying motionless in the bed, his soft snores confirming he was still asleep. A mischievous smile crept across her face. She padded into the room, still dripping...

Chapter 16: Sanctuary Dave’s heart pounded as they ducked into the abandoned Chungo's, a fast-food restaurant chain that had gone out of business last year. They'd run through the woods until they came to this place, in an abandoned strip-mall on an unused road, scheduled for demolition sometime next year. The scent of mildew and decay was thick in the air. The once-bright signage was now faded, the windows shattered, and...

Chapter 13: Investigation Dave sat on the sofa, the glow of his monitor casting eerie shadows across the room. Liki was nearby, perched on the floor, her fingers deftly manipulating her Wimil cubes. She was still in her bikini, the fabric clinging to her petite frame as she played, her focus entirely on the task at hand. Occasionally, she would glance up at him, her green eyes flecked with gold, and he couldn’t help but s...

Chapter 8: Diagnosis Her lips were warm, her kiss soft and tender, but something about it made Dave’s skin prickle with unease. His mind raced as her small tongue slid against his, the taste of tomatoes and eggs lingering between them. Wait—he froze mid-kiss, pulling back just enough to break contact. How does she know my name? The question gnawed at him, growing louder and more insistent with every passing second. It was...

Chapter 2: Desire Dave’s heart thrummed in his chest as Liki’s lips hovered dangerously close to his. Her small, warm body pressed against him, her fingers tracing the edge of his pants with a curiosity that was both innocent and exciting. He could feel the heat of her breath, the way her chest rose and fell against his, and for a second, he thought he might give in to the moment entirely. But then, a flicker of doubt cre...

Chapter 1: Awakening The large, glossy display box sat on Dave’s kitchen table, its sleek surface reflecting the soft overhead light. He ran his fingers over the edge of the lid, feeling the cool, smooth material against his skin. This is it, he thought, his heart beating a little faster. My very own Wimil. The packaging was minimalistic yet elegant, a small holographic logo representing the Eris Nishimoto Bio Corp in the...

“I can’t feel my toes.” It was freezing inside the beat-up Honda, but Gabe wouldn’t run the engine. Chloe had asked him to turn it on, just for a minute, but he’d said he didn’t want to attract attention by idling the car, and anyways, gas wasn’t cheap. “Stamp your feet or something,” he said. Like that would help. She scrunched up numb toes inside her four-inch heels and tried to think about how warm she’d be in a few mi...

The sea breeze, with its salt and coolness, tangled in Avery's hair as she sat on the edge of a cliff towering majestically over a turquoise-blue sea. The sun, in its golden descent, draped the horizon with a cloak of warm and serene lights, cruelly contrasting with the pain Avery felt within. Avery was weeping, but not with silent tears; it was a heart-wrenching cry, the kind that seems to tear apart the soul of whoever...