The Pens of Fate [19] (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 I choose to write. 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 motivation for my sobriety 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 beat the addictions of hate; 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 sorry again for not posting. 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 little bats.}

James sat down to watch Adaline as she paced back and forth, overthinking as usual when she would forget something important. Calmly, James questioned her, “Okay, what are you planning to do for the current shit show?” Adaline took a deep breath as what James would call ‘Addie word vomit’ began, “Okay, we have five pens on the field, three creepy teens with abilities, three experimental teens, and four normal teens from the real world. Kali has a cult of her own experimental members, the powers of my inner demons, and maybe the advantage of knowing the land. I can’t use the pens in my pocket due to what happened with the Devil’s Pen, and I will never let someone from my world use the pens due to each Pen’s curse. Did I forget to mention that the Cult of Alice has already killed the virtues Humility and Kindness?” James nodded as Adaline continued to rant and muttered to herself, “I don’t know why I wrote this so dang long and complicated.” James looked up to her, “You write about really serious crimes and bring a lot of mental health awareness for people like you. You write fictional horrors to fight the real horrors in the real world. You protect victims of crimes because you can’t let others suffer the same fate. Which is probably why you stopped trying to die, Ada. Many feel like people choose to write horrible things in such graphic detail that your writing is refreshing because yours has purpose.” Adaline locked eyes with him and smiled a shy expression. James felt a small warmth in his chest after every time he saw this side of his beloved. Adaline looked down to the white floor of her collection room, digging one of her platforms into the ground as she grew flustered. The pair continued to head towards the chessboard, unaware of the danger they were leaving behind… 

The masked members blocked the path ahead, each with a firm hold on a different medieval melee weapon. Lason’s eyes landed on the lance welding members and the ones with the polearms. Those guys would be the people to avoid at all costs, he thought as his elbows bent in a non-human way to reveal a gun barrel where his joints should have been. “Everyone, avoid the longer distance weapons and stay out of my way. No friendly fire today, bitches,” he called out behind him as Victoria and Dan charged ahead without a second glance. Liz took Grace’s hand and dragged her through the maze’s wall of leaves with Vivienne close behind them. Arthur ran to follow the girls but a strange swish sound from behind him caused everything to freeze as a sharp pain rose in his chest. Arthur’s eyes landed on the long blade poking out from his chest as he could only make a choking sound of pain. Everyone gasped in unison as black ink formed around Arthur’s wound instead of blood. Falling to his knees Arthur turned to look at who was holding the lance. He locked eyes with the green-eyed person wearing the wolf mask but before anyone could say anything a gunshot echoed through the maze as the mask flew off. The pair of green eyes turned back to Lason who had aimed at her. Arthur could only stare up at who he thought was Addie as the green eyes fell back onto him, “A-Addie?” Before anyone could react, the Adaline copy slashed Arthur. Vivienne’s heart stopped as her eyes met the scarlet liquid flowing under the maze wall. Sobs escaped Grace’s throat as Liz came to the shocking reality of the situation, “Addie won’t be able to protect you or bring you guys home if you die here,” her voice broke the space in-between Grace’s sobs. The girls all froze as the leaves began to rustle in front of them… 

As James and Adaline looked through the collection on the shelves Adaline’s knees gave out from beneath her. “Ada!” James rushed to her side as she started to sob. Seeing her breakdown like this, James knew that she was wrong about her own writing rules, and she couldn't fix this like she had thought she could. Kali had killed someone outside the book worlds, which should have been impossible. Adaline looked up to the metal plaques on the wall with her engravings of six rules on them with teary eyes as thoughts of why and how this happened flooded her mind. Adaline, without a second thought pulled out the Pen of the Goddess and started to write on the white tile floor. In doing so a small portal opened up in front of the couple. Adaline kissed James hard and pushed him through the portal as it began to close. Without looking back, she ran to the chess game to see six pawns laid in pieces, a mixed of the two teams…