An urban view accompanied a quiet and contagious radio music, through the window all that could be seen was a vast area of buildings and shops, a gray vision was how it could be defined what was seen by Chloe.
Chloe, a 16-year-old teenager, her shyness reaches a peculiar, almost strange point. Her short black hair hides some of her bright eyes, partially covered by a fringe. Her style is casual, opting for a dark sweatshirt that covers much of her body, contrasting with a red skirt. On the feet, always a pair of dark sneakers accompanied by high socks.
But what intrigues Chloe most is her constant companionship: "Bob." This little creature, a ragdoll of sorts, resides on top of Chloe's head. Her egg-shaped head features an eye that never closes, always watching Chloe's every move closely, whether as a curious viewer or a devoted reader. Even in the most private moments, Bob is there, a loyal and quirky companion to Chloe.
"Did you hear me, Chloe?" - Asked a strange figure in the front seat of the car.
Chloe rolled her eyes to find the voice calling her and found a humanoid creature watching her. Its body closely resembled that of an adult female figure, while its head was distinctly that of a sheep - but a much stranger sheep than usual, with several eyes and a frightening aura. Quickly, she gave a slight tug on a rope attached to a leash around Chloe's neck, clearly intended to get her attention.
"Do you understand everything I said, Chloe?" - The strange sheep asked again.
[Chloe nodded.]
"Look at those things, remember never to become anything like that. The sheep pointed out the window of the moving vehicle.
Chloe followed his finger to see where it was pointing. Looking out the window, the girl spotted dying creatures lying on the ground. They could be described as putrid corpses with depressed looks. Whenever something passed near them, they instinctively tried to grab onto each other, to suck something out of the source of movement. The most common way to avoid teasing them was to avoid eye contact.
- That is the failure, you must not be a failure, if you fail there will be no return, if you don't give your best you will be that, don't try anything outside of what I told you, otherwise you will not be like them. The sheep then pointed to the other side of the vehicle.
Turning her face away, Chloe looked at the other side of the car. She could see figures walking elegantly, their bodies very much resembling a sturdy frame, while their heads were like the perfect view of a cabinet. They moved in a straight line, always in the same direction, stopping when necessary and resuming movement when ordered. Their routes were always the same, their customs unchanged. They conveyed an image of a perfect life, a false representation of reality, as if it were a picture painted by superior and perverse hands.
"If you dedicate yourself, you can be successful, but only if you listen to me and abandon this idea of freeness, free is something created to delay the victors who want a good life and life is nothing more than a gift given by someone, a gift that should not be wasted on trivial problems. The sheep pointed with a tone of superiority.
[Chloe nodded.]
A second figure could be seen in the corner, staring in silence at the sheep's speeches. His body was covered in a tortoiseshell painted to look like a suit, but underneath that shell was revealed to be the shape of a sloth, with a totally depressive and apprehensive expression.
"Try to do what you think is best. - Said the laziness.
"Don't put these illusions in her head!" - Grumbled the sheep.
[Chloe lowered her head by clasping her fingers together.]
Chloe wondered about the true purpose of life. Maybe being a good person was the right answer, to help as many people as possible?
Maybe be a chef who helps the homeless by handing them delicious trays of crepes! These were trivial questions, asked quickly, but all with a practical basis. However, this was something Chloe often pondered.
At this point... Chloe is empty.
"We've arrived... Remember, listen well to what they say, those who come here should always be receptive, after all those who come here should always leave knowing more than others, that way you will not be a failure. - Said the sheep as he let go of the rope that was attached to Chloe's collar.
"Just do your best..." Laziness said.
[Chloe nodded.]
His hands, almost as soft as a sponge, slid over the doorknob, opening it calmly. After getting out of the vehicle, Chloe came across a huge, colorful structure filled with lights. A strange figure, dressed in flashy clothes, invited Chloe into the room in a way that was so cheerful that it was frightening.
- Don't be shy, young child! Here you will learn everything you need to be an excellent citizen of the new age, do your part and listen to nothing more! - Said the strange figure in flashy clothes.
Chloe felt a wind blowing past her back, only to be met with the car driving away, leaving her behind. A glimpse of a new beginning began. Now, Chloe wasn't sure what she was supposed to do; However, she decided to follow what she had been told and entered the strange structure.
As he walked through the halls, his bright eyes scanned the pictures on the walls. Did they perhaps represent people of great authority? Chloe couldn't say for sure, but it was something she thought. She went through the door she could find, only to find them all closed. At this moment, Chloe was puzzled. A light then caught his eye, a bright, flashy light coming from a half-open crack in a door.
Sounds of laughter were heard; Was it some kind of party? Chloe was curious and walked towards the door. As he slowly opened it, he found a room full of desks. She was dazzled by the new environment she had discovered. As she looked around, Chloe saw a table with several pieces of cake. He walked over to the table and picked up one of the pieces. It felt soft and very appetizing. He stuck out his tongue and gave the cake a light lick. A sweet taste enveloped her mouth, making her very cheerful. Suddenly, he brought his mouth closer and bit into a piece of the cake. A strange sensation coursed through his body. Chloe felt pain, a sharp pain. He moved his fingers into his mouth as he searched for something. Then, she pulled out a razor blade from her mouth, the object intrigued her.
[Chloe is confused.]
Looking around the room, Chloe noticed a cluster of beings around something. Their appearances were strange: their heads were white eggs, while their bodies were human and dressed in social clothes. They were laughing at something, but the girl didn't know what it could be.
Chloe approached the cluster of beings, trying to see what they were observing. She forced herself among the beings to see what they were laughing about. After some effort, he managed to catch a glimpse of a pile of cake, almost the size of Chloe. Those strange figures threw their pieces of cake into the pile consecutively, while laughing.
"Hey... What are you doing?
A voice next to Chloe caught his attention.
"You've got a piece of cake too, throw it, it's fun!" - Said a blond boy.
Chloe looked at him from head to toe. His clothes were extravagant, he wore earrings and had blond hair. His gaze was snobbish. The girl wasn't sure how to react to that boy.
"Don't you know how it's done?" That's how it is. The boy then threw his piece of cake against the pile of cakes and started laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world. "See? It's easy.
At that moment, Chloe found herself at a crossroads. Maybe I should follow the same pattern of behavior? Or maybe act differently? Everything was a bit confusing.
[Chloe nodded.]
It was the beginning of one of the journeys where Chloe could find her fulfillment.
Deciding to follow the pattern she was shown, Chloe hurled her piece of cake against the pile of cakes. She didn't quite understand why she was doing it, but the beings around her began to laugh heartily after her action.
[Chloe felt something strange.]
A strange feeling of happiness came over the girl; A smile formed on her face and she let out a faint laugh.
"See? I said it was fun. The boy said as he laughed.
"Do you think that's funny?" Its disgusting!
A piece of cake was thrown in the boy's face. Chloe was surprised to witness the event. Then, she saw a blue-haired girl, a little taller than Chloe. His gaze was sharp and serious, watching both her and the boy. His presence conveyed a heavy judgment, accompanied by a look of disgust.
"Tsk... Did you have to come and spoil our game?
"Where's this a joke?" Where was that supposed to be funny?!
[Chloe is confused.]
A strange movement began to appear in the middle of the pile of cakes. A figure emerged from within her, taking shape and revealing a bespectacled girl. His sad look was concealed by a faint smile, while his lowered face tried to hide his true feelings. Its body exhibited some cuts, a result of the razor blades present in the cakes.
"You don't have to do that... I'm fine. The girl said as she walked out of the group.
Chloe had no idea how to react. She just stood there, staring at the bespectacled girl walk away. Turning her gaze to her surroundings, she noticed the gazes that were watching her: one expressed disgust and disgust, another was neutral, while the last showed apprehension.
"There's no point in arguing with you, you fucking bastard. - Said the blond boy as he turned his back and wiped the cake from his face.
He walked past Chloe, looking into her eyes. His gaze, initially apprehensive, soon turned into a somewhat distorted expression.
- I'll see you later, kitty.
[Chloe was surprised.]
Before he could reflect on the recent events, a figure wearing somewhat social clothes entered the room. His head was a tube television with an antenna on top of it, and even though he had no eyes, the figure stared at everyone. At that moment, everyone in the room went to their desks and sat down, following the pattern of those beings. Chloe quickly found a vacant chair and sat down, watching the strange television in front of her.
- Very well, children! I hope you're having a great morning. Let's start our day with our usual content. Remember to pay attention, after all, we know everything and teach everything. So, it's important that you focus on what we have to show you today! "The television spoke cheerfully and comically.
After he finished speaking, everyone in the room remained silent. Chloe noticed some people acting differently; He saw the blond boy using his cell phone. That attitude made her a little curious. Shouldn't we follow the standards? That is what had been said. Maybe he was a failure?
As she turned her gaze to the other figures, Chloe caught sight of the blue-haired girl. She was focused, just like the others, but her eyes seemed to look beyond. An aura of possessiveness hung over the girl; His eyes didn't even seem to blink. Maybe this was the true form Chloe was supposed to take? She couldn't tell.
Chloe looked around again and spotted the bespectacled girl covering herself with a jacket. Her clothes were somewhat cute, especially the jacket, and she exuded a peaceful aura. Then the girl took out her backpack and pulled out a notebook with a flower drawing on the cover, hugging it, which seemed to comfort her. Chloe observed the girl's behavior and wondered if she could also be a flaw. The girl couldn't tell, but she was curious about her.
A fixed gaze hung over Chloe; She could see something staring at her. Softly, he turned his focus to the source of the sensation of observation and noticed a black-haired boy in somewhat casual clothes. He exuded a serene and peculiar aura. Chloe felt awkward being watched by those calm eyes. Then he turned his gaze forward, wondering what the boy might be thinking.
[Chloe is thoughtful.]
This new environment made Chloe somewhat stressed. She didn't know how to behave, and around her strange people were acting differently. How could Chloe follow what the sheep had instructed? She didn't know which way to go.
"Are you paying attention, girl?" The television suddenly flashed in front of Chloe, startling her.
[Chloe froze.]
The television then reached out to the rope attached to Chloe's collar and pulled her forward, dragging the girl with it. His screen, now so close to the girl's face, showed a rather catastrophic scenario.
- You need to pay attention, you have to focus on what is said, you know?! "He spoke on television, emphasizing the importance.
[Chloe nodded desperately.]
- Very well! That's the way it should be, and not otherwise. If you understand, then show yourself more obedient and focus on what you are told! He emphasized the television as he turned to the class.
Chloe was startled, thinking that maybe she was wrong somehow. Could it have been his curiosity that caused it? She didn't know what to say. At the same time, she noticed stares directed at her. The bespectacled girl watched her from the sidelines, with a worried look. The blond boy stared at her with an embarrassing expression, while the black-haired boy looked at her with a faint smile. Meanwhile, the bespectacled girl stared at her with disgust.
[Chloe está Ansiosa.]
The girl began to pant, her vision began to darken, and a buzzing sound coursed through her ears as she watched the television broadcast an educational program to everyone in the room. It looked like she was going to faint. Thinking quickly, she remembered her bullets. Chloe was a little shaky as she moved her hands into the pocket of her sweatshirt. She pulled out a white package with a drawing of the smiling sun. Putting her finger inside the package, she picked up a small smiling sun-shaped candy and put it in her mouth, swallowing it. In a few moments, she began to feel calmer.
[Chloe is calm]
From that moment on, Chloe didn't even notice the time ticking by. She was very involved with the television program, although it was somewhat repetitive, it was understandable. After the program ended, the television quickly got up and headed for the door, then left.
The day was over. Chloe stood up, ready to leave, and headed towards the exit along with the other members of the class. However, before she could leave, an arm encircled her: the blond boy had just approached and prevented her from leaving. This was observed by the others who were leaving. However, they all left, leaving the two of them alone in the room.
- So, kitty, what do you think of the contents? The boy asked, staring at Chloe.
Chloe didn't know what to say. She crossed her arms and became thoughtful. The boy, observing her behavior, approached her and looked into her eyes, interrupting her thoughts. The girl stared back at him, awaiting his next actions.
"My name is Cristian. I believe we could be good friends. Maybe you should meet me tomorrow. I have something really fun in mind, something I think you'd like too. How about joining me? It will be fun. - Said the boy, with a snobbish look.
Maybe Chloe should refuse his request, or maybe she should follow him. There were two possibilities that Chloe didn't know which one to pursue, confused that she had never been in such a situation. In the end, Chloe eventually nodded to the request.
The days after this sudden encounter passed quickly.
Chloe eventually grew closer to Cristian.
Inspired by Cristian's example, Chloe dyed her hair blonde and began to move away from the standards imposed by the sheep.
Despite the visible change, Chloe was still a rather shy girl. His current circle of friends was mostly made up of the same friends as Cristian, which ended up alienating many of his former classmates. This made her comfortable in her group, although she sometimes felt out of place within that social circle. She believed that she only belonged to this group, and it put her in her comfort zone. However, this situation resulted in a drop in her grades, and both the sheep and the sloth began to exert more pressure on Chloe. Around this time, she began to spend more time outside the house, enjoying time with her new friends.
"Come on, why don't you drop that notebook right away?" Cristian asked, pulling out the girl's notebook.
While searching for her social group, Chloe noticed Cristian pulling the notebook out of a girl's hand. Instantly, she recognized Alice, the bespectacled girl she had met on her first day. This scene was not unusual, as Cristian used to bully the girl constantly.
[Chloe Felt Sick.]
The girl then approached Cristian and tried to stop him from taking Alice's notebook. Noticing Chloe trying to intervene, the boy let go of the notebook and walked away, laughing, as he tried to calm Chloe down. Chloe broke away from Cristian and tried to comfort Alice. However, Alice recoiled with a look of fear, conveying that she was not comfortable in the presence of Chloe and the others.
[Chloe is sad.]
"You're so lucky to have Chloe by your side, Cristian. - Said the black-haired boy.
He came out of nowhere and helped Alice to her feet while confronting Cristian.
"Look who's shown up, Andy, the famous fucking intruder. What was it? Have you come to save your girlfriend? Cristian teased.
"And you?" Still taking it out on others your frustration at having a horrible family? Andy retorted.
Andy's words clearly affected Cristian. He made an aggressive gesture, as if he was on the verge of exploding at any moment. However, Chloe intervened, putting herself in front of him and denying any confrontation. Observing this, Cristian expressed frustration in his gaze as he turned and departed. Chloe tried to follow him, but had her arm grabbed by Andy.
"How long are you going to be this idiot's emotional support, Chloe?" Andy asked.
Hearing Andy's words, Chloe lowered her face, tugged at his arm, and ran after Cristian, leaving Andy and Alice behind.
"I don't understand what she sees in this idiot. Andy asked.
A silhouette emerged next to Andy: it was Ruby, the blue-haired girl. She stared at Chloe walking away with a look of disappointment.
"Actually, it's quite simple. Chloe can't make decisions on her own. She's that kind of person, empty and dependent. Ruby said, turning her back and then leaving.
Chloe followed Cristian home, noticing that he was agitated but still wanted to stay by his side. The boy entered his house, leaving the door open. Chloe stepped in quietly, watching him. His house had a peculiar atmosphere, impregnated with the smell of cigarettes. As she walked past the room, Chloe noticed a photo on top of a shelf. In it, Cristian appeared with a vacant look, next to a figure with a female body, but with a cigarette-shaped head.
A noise caught Chloe's attention. Curious, she followed the sound and opened the door to Cristian's room. There, she saw him holding a bat in his hand, in front of a small destroyed picture frame. Chloe fixed her gaze on the nearly shattered photo, realizing that it contained Cristian and Andy, who apparently used to be friends.
"That sucker, I should have finished him off right there. - Cristian said with a sad and angry look.
[Chloe felt Empathy.]
Cautiously, Chloe approached Cristian and noticed that he had removed his coat. His arm, which was normally covered, showed marks of cigarette burns. Trying to interact with him, Chloe reached out to get his attention. However, Cristian grabbed her arm and threw her on the bed. Lost as to how to react, Chloe stared at Cristian as he stood over her.
"May I ask you to comfort me?" Cristian asked as he grabbed and pulled Chloe's collar.
The girl began to feel trembling again, she quickly tried to pick up her bullets, however, a tear fell on her face, this made her stop. Chloe felt unable to react, not knowing what to say. She felt compassion for Cristian and, in a gesture of comfort, brought her hand to the boy's face and simply closed her eyes.
A few years passed.
Cristian now began to pull away from Chloe.
Something was wrong and Chloe believed it.
Cristian swiped the screen of his cell phone, he watched smiling as messages had been sent to him, behind him was Chloe as she watched him in silence, her once bright gaze now gave way to a tired and vacant place.
"I'm leaving, I'll be back later." I have to talk to some people. Cristian said as he walked out the door.
Chloe approached the window and watched Cristian get into a car with a woman, the same one who had appeared in the last few days. She knew what was going on, but she chose not to say anything. In her arms, something was being held. She then removed the cloth that covered it, revealing a species of large larva. She stared at the creature with revulsion and sadness, accompanied by a shaky, vague smile. Then he put the larva in a crib and sat down on the couch. She took out her cell phone and noticed that the sheep hadn't sent her messages for years, although the sloth always asked her if she needed something, she then grabbed the rope that was attached to her collar, but no longer had the strength to tear it off.
At this point... Chloe is full of Depression...
What a horrible scenario, Chloe. You've stuck yourself with the wrong person. Maybe it should have followed the pattern? Maybe I should have done things differently? There are so many paths. Why get so attached to one person? Why follow a path that you don't like or in which you feel out of place? Do you want to start over, Chloe?
A voice caught the girl's attention. Bob, who was watching her, moved down to her face, looking her in the eyes. Chloe understood what Bob meant. She would give up her way to start over. She closed her eyes and allowed Bob to wrap around her.
In the blink of an eye Chloe saw herself in a car, an urban vision accompanied by a quiet and contagious radio music, through the window all that could be seen was a vast area of buildings and shops, a gray vision was how it could be defined what was seen by Chloe.
Why not take another path Chloe? Maybe you like to test new things?
Chloe didn't understand what Bob meant, after all, she had no memories of something she knows she experienced.
Author's Notes: Chloe is a teenager facing psychological problems, now trapped in a loop controlled by Bob, her little viewer. Maybe she'll find a happy ending, or maybe she'll find herself in a sea of frustration and sadness.
Chapter 2 in progress.
This novel is translated from Portuguese, I apologize if there are any errors.