The Pens of Fate [18] (Saga Remastered) {June 30, 2024}

Note from the Author

This book contains and mentions sensitive material relating to mental illnesses, several personality disorders, suicide, suicidal thoughts, post-traumatic stress disorder, rape, murder, death, alcoholism, self-harm, and depression. Reader discretion is highly advised, and it is important to practice self-care during and after reading. There is foul language, substance abuse, multiple types of abuse as well. Some of the events, people, and timelines are based on true aspects of my life, so keep a clear mindset.

I will continue to write for myself, not for the people who judge based on what my cover looks like. They will miss out on these torn pages that bleed to please because of what is written in them. To my inner angels who kept fighting against the demons of my mind, I want to thank you for it. And to those inner monsters of mine, thank you for being my inspiration for the dance that came from these stories. To the angels who stood beside me while I battled evil in my childhood, these books and stories will represent how you have been there for me. 

And to the younger me, who gave it all they had to entertain the audience around them; you were going to do great things. Don't you ever look back and question the choices that lead you to the me that I have become...

{PS I am so sorry for not posting for a bit. Life has become a bit busier with trying to move out and getting engaged to the real life "James" [he picked his character name] I have been improving the books and have more horrors to give you all to make up for lost nightmares. Remember that you are all loved and supported even if it's from a stranger like me. Enjoy, my bats.}

Back in the maze, Zach and Tina hid under the table as they watched in morbid curiosity.  The pair’s curiosity turned to horror as the masked figure poured the watering pot of blood onto the skeleton in the red rose section. The once bare bones started to regain its flesh and started to appear more human. Zach’s rusty red eyes widened when the masked figure walked away. The once rotting skeleton was now a full human as the masked figure walked away. Once clear from any other cult members, Tina moved out from her spot over to the flower bed with her mouth dropped, “That’s Glenda Foster.” Zach stood up and headed over to Tina and sure enough, it was her. Zach and Tina locked eyes and then to the little tea party around them. Beside the still bare skeletons in the open graves; marked by the blue, green, and yellow roses there were five more different colored flower beds. The number finally dawned on Zach; the ten killings that Adaline said would happen; the Seven Deadly Sins being tamed by the Seven Heavenly Virtues as Adaline wrote about. The pair looked at each other again and headed the same way that the figure went. Zach and Tina found themselves in another clearing in the maze that was full of pixies dancing and playing music around a small bonfire. Some of the pixies looked at each other when Zach cleared his throat, “Hey, ladies. Remember me?” One flew up to Zach’s face and started to jingle as if she was talking to him. Tina looked from Zach to the little pixie, “Umm?” Zach then realized, “Oh right, Tina met the queen of the pixies in Wonderland, Periwinkle, daughter of Loki. Just roll with the title; Addie was six years old when the idea popped into their head.” Tina nodded but still didn’t understand any of this, “How is she going to help us tell the others about the killings?” The pixie hummed in response as Zach cuckold, “She can’t understand you. Let me handle this.” Zach turned to Tina, “Pixies bring out the light-hearted side in all of us, and they help us celebrate our connection to nature. In plays and poems, these mini-forest creatures represent the cunning and playful side of human nature, and they bring us back to the magical side of fantasy stories. In traditional regional lore, pixies are generally benign, mischievous, short of stature and childlike.” Zach looked back at the queen, “Adaline made me help them with the research for the older stories. But back on topic; we need you to send a message to the others.” The pixie chimed in agreement…

 Simon stared down at the yellow police tape that blocked the alleyway where Heather was taken from. Cody, Grace, and Liz met the others there. Grace locked eyes with Simon, “Sorry, dude. We’ll find her.” They walked back to the club room where Dan and Maddie stood in the middle. Along with Dan and Maddie, there was a girl without a mouth and nose. Where her mouth should be was a strange symbol; it was a circle with an "X" drawn through it. Dan and Maddie both have the exact same symbol on their arms. Simon remembered that it was called the Operator Symbol. Grace looked to the new girl then to Dan and Maddie, “What are you guys doing here? Didn’t you go back home to work for Slenderman?” Maddie nodded as she reached into her backpack and pulled out a human finger and took a bite, “Yeah, but there this annoying fairy kept on playing tricks on us and telling us to come here,” she said as blood trickled down the corner of her mouth. Dan sighed in agreement, “I thought it was a bug right up to the pranking part. She then told us to go save Zach and Tina who are in a wonderland and think that they have found Addie and the cult behind the kidnappings.” Vivienne looked back at the mouthless girl, “Okay, but who the heck is this?” Dan looked over and cuckold, “That’s Victoria, the new proxy.” Damian nodded then turned to the group, “Well, let’s go follow the white rabbit.” ... 

Zach and Tina walked back through the maze to wait at the center for the others. One of the pixies was following them, watching them. Tina looked back at the woods, “How are you able to talk to pixies?” Zack cuckold, “The Devil’s pen is based on creatures of myths and folklore. Now that I have the pen’s abilities, I can do a lot more than just talk to pixies.” Tina stopped, “I have the pen of death’s powers; what does that mean? Is the baby going to be, okay?” Zach turned to her, “You are now a grim rapper, Tina. When this is over you will have to go through all the different worlds and help souls on their journey to the afterlife. And as for your baby, they have been kicking, right?” Tina shook her head in disbelief, “NO! I JUST WANT TO HAVE A NORMAL LIFE! AND I CAN’T FEEL SHIT BECAUSE I’M IN THE EARLY PART OF PREGNANCY, DIPSHIT!” Zach sighed, “Life isn’t fair, and you can’t control everything. Adaline’s own past is proof of that. Adaline writes to escape the pain and disappointment of life, and now she’s trapped here.” Tina’s expressions soften, “Wh-what?” Zach took a seat on a nearby rock, used to and ignored the “dipshit” comment, “Addie has depression and a bunch of mental illnesses that most doctors glare at, and has tried to end her own life a few times. When Addie was in the ER the fourth time, she realized that she didn’t want to die because something was keeping her alive. I haven’t known her for long, but Addie has been the rope keeping me and another friend of ours from letting the world win, that’s why she writes. Writing is all that she knows how to do, but her little words run deep through the hearts of people around her.” Tina looked down, “I didn’t know. I am sorry.” The pixie flew by Zach’s head and started to hum. Zach glared at her, “What’s got you in a hurry?” The pixie started to pull on Tina’s hair, tries to get them to follow. Tina pulled her ponytail away from the pixie, “HEY!” Zach nodded, “I think she wants to show us something.” The pixie chimed in response. Tina looked at Zach with an unsure expression, “Are we really going to follow a pixie to only god knows where?” Zach shrugged, “Life is all about taking risks.” The pixie led them away from the maze... 

Dan and Vivienne lead the way through the maze while Victoria and the rest of the group walk behind them. Cody looked over at Victoria, “So, how do you breathe and eat?” Victoria stopped and lifted up her hair on the back of her head revealing a monster-like mouth that was embedded into her skull. A long tongue poked out and licked the lips then a waspy voice came out, “I had acid thrown at me by an ex-girlfriend and my twin brother thought he could help me. He couldn't and made shit worse. He did experiments on me while I slept.” Simon shivered, “When did you become Slenderman’s proxy?” Victoria’s mouth continued, “I went into the woods with my brother and killed him.” The group went silent as they continued to wander deeper into the maze, unaware of the dangers within. Simon grew uneasy as thoughts of Heather came to his mind, “So, can someone please tell me what the actual fuck is happening? Let’s start with the kidnappings, please,” he grunted at Dan and Maddie. Dan nodded as the group continued forward, “There will be ten victims: one for each deadly sin with some having two souls representing the heavenly virtues. Adaline chose the number ten for the ten plagues of Egypt. The deaths will trigger a massive wave of destruction throughout the connecting worlds; famines and war will break out while the skies open up to enraged gods of Addie’s own creation,” Dan paused and turned to the group as he snarled, “Anything and everything Addie wrote relating to this story is in danger, which includes three short horror stories, two stand-alone books, and Our world,” he finished pointing at Maddie and Victoria. Author looked at Simon then back to Dan who had tears fighting to leave his dark eyes, “What would happen to Addie?” Before Dan could answer, a noise threw everyone into silence. Something was approaching them, and half of the teens were unarmed…