"I need to be perfect. After all, nothing short of perfection is worthy of standing by his side."
My name is Michelle King, 17 years old and little sister of Bruce King, the "flawless genius" and otaku student council president. Ask anyone and you'll find out that if not for the fact that we share the same last name, no one will believe we're actually related— that's pretty much how distant our relationship is to the public.
It wasn't always like this though, we actually used to be really close back as children, I'd follow him everywhere, imitating him, it was rare to see us apart... How I wish I could go back to those days.
As kids, our parents made us attend all sorts of classes— piano, chess, fencing, art, programming, cryptography, marksmanship as well as private tutoring on middle and high school subjects. They were hard but I always tried my best— I loved when my tutors praised me for a job well done, I loved when my parents praised me for maintaining the records big brother set when he took those classes, but most of all, I loved receiving praise from my big brother, he'd pat my head and say "good job, sis"— it was the best feeling in the world.
"Bruce's sister" is what the adults called me back then, they never bothered to learn my name, to them, all I was was Bruce King's little sister.
But that didn't bother me one bit. Infact, it made me happy, I preferred being Bruce's sister than Michelle King. I love my brother, and want to be by his side forever.
However, fate had other plans for us.
When he was in fifth grade, he was selected to represent Stone Valley in a national chess competition over at the big city, it was there he suffered his first ever defeat, and to a boy one year younger.
I came down with an illness so I wasn't able to attend. However, I heard he was completely overwhelmed by his opponent and lost less than a minute into the game.
That incident changed him, although, it wasn't a negative change for him, he started applying himself more and working harder than anyone to become better. Studies filled his time and self-improvement his mind, he didn't have time for me anymore.
He hardly ever looked in my direction anymore or concerned himself with my existence, but it was okay. I knew my big brother was working hard, so, I wanted to try my best too.
It was then I realized my best wasn't enough.
"As expected from Bruce's little sister" was something I had heard my whole life, but since that day, the words I heard from everyone changed.
"Disappointing. Are you sure you really are Bruce King's little sister?"
It wasn't that my performance was terrible or that I hadn't improved, my brother's abilities were just so far ahead of mine and I could never measure up no matter how hard I tried.
Everyone had high expectations of me because of the records my brother left behind, and I always disappointed them without fail.
My teachers were disappointed in me, my parents treated me like a faliure and my big brother who had always comforted me never noticed me or my suffering.
I had lost everything, and I blamed my brother for it. Looking back on it, my brother wasn't at fault, he simply wanted to be better. It was my fault for being so weak, for being a parasite who just leeched off my big brother.
And parasite that I was, I wanted him to notice me again, to see my pain
I stopped attending all my special lessons in an act of rebellion, but he didn't care and neither did my parents who had given up on me. I even started dyeing my hair blond out of spite, it was the same color as the kid who beat him, but even that didn't get his attention.
I pulled all sorts of pranks but even that didn't get his attention. Eventually, I gave up on everything, my family.... and brother.
When I turned 13, I ran away from home, taking the bus to the farthest town I could find— I wanted to escape everything. My parents who were disappointed in my existence, the people who fawned over my brother, insulting his countless hours of hardwork with the words "talent" and "genius" and my brother....who rejected me.
I found out soon enough that being a runaway wasn't as easy as the movies made it seem. I'm a parasite who can't do anything by herself, that became more apparent living on the harsh streets of the entertainment district.
I was molested and robbed of all my valuables on my first day there and had to sleep next to dumpsters, rationing the little money I managed to hang on to for food till it eventually ran out.
At that point, I was stuck, tired and hungry. So... I tried selling my b*dy in exchange for something to eat— it was one of the worst decisions of my life. A certain pimp hired me and put me to work immediately
My first client was a fat middle aged man probably in his mid-forties, my resolve crumbled at that moment— I wanted to take back my decision, I wanted to go home, I wanted someone to save me
"Please... Save me, big brother"
But my big brother wasn't here, no one was coming to save me. I was trapped with no means of escape, with no choice but to accept my fate, and reap the fruits of my actions.
It was a painful experience, and my second time wasn't any better. I couldn't escape the contract with the pimp and I couldn't escape the sick middle aged men who enjoyed emotionally scarring a kid. I had given up on the world then, and almost given up on life...
Until she saved me.
Her name was Kara Boston, the leader of a biker gang known as the pink lizards who destroyed the pimp's operation. To me, she seemed like an angel who came down to save me, and her words gave me something else to live for.
"If you have nowhere to go, why don't you come with us, kid"
That was my second mistake. I guess somewhere deep down, I was looking for a replacement for Bruce. I was still a parasite, and she was the next person I clung to.
We went around getting into all sorts of trouble— fights, petty crimes, drugs and alcohol, you name it, but I was having too much fun following her. I didn't need to think about anything, I didn't need to do anything, just follow her and have the time of my life. It was all like a dream, but my wake up call wasn't so far off
Following a certain job involving intimidating some debt collectors, I ran into my big brother who had been searching for me for months. He came to bring me back home.
"I'm not going, I don't need you anymore! I have a good life here, I'm independent now, I'm happy"
Independent? Yeah, right. I was still the same naive little parasite, the only thing that had changed was my host.
I rejected my brother, but he didn't give up on me. He kept trying to bring me back home and that led to an altercation with the pink lizards. Skilled as he was, he still got overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the gang and their weapons.
I still remember the rain that night from time to time, beating down on Bruce, laying on the floor with a bullet in his stomach and leg.
I can remember leaving him there to bleed out, and naively following Kara and the gang on that rainy night, the puddles on the road spraying our ankles as our bike ran through them.
A couple months later, when I was 14 years of age, I got arrested for murder.
The victim was a well known crime boss who Kara had gotten close to, and killed to inherit his empire. I was the naive fool she set to take the fall, and the evidence pointed to me as the culprit.
In the end, that was all i amounted to in her eyes— just one of her many puppets in her quest to rule the underworld.
No matter what I said, no one believed in my innocence, and once my parents got word of it, they disowned me on the spot and even went further to make sure no respectable lawyer will take my case. No one believed, and no one cared—At least, that's what I thought. But there was one person who never gave up on me, who believed me no matter what and always fought tooth and nail for my happiness.
That was my big brother, Bruce King
I can still remember the tears streaming down his face as he embraced me, his uncontrollable cries as he constantly apologized to me despite having done absolutely nothing wrong.
"I'm sorry, Michelle. For not realizing your pain sooner, for pushing you away. I'm so sorry, Michelle. Please...forgive me"
Those were the words I had always wanted to hear, but I didn't feel any satisfaction from them. He had nothing to apologize for, I was the one who was selfish and dependent. It was all my fault, please forgive me, Bruce.
Against my parents wishes, he stood by my side.
He left the family, throwing away the connections and future path our parents had prepared for him, all for me.
No respectable lawyer would take my case and he couldn't represent me because he didn't have a license to practice law. So, he found a failed rookie lawyer with nothing to lose and coached him to defend me against the state's best prosecutor.
He worked behind the scenes, involving himself with the underworld and using his intelligence, analysis and strategic prowess to crush the pink lizards, find credible evidence to exonerate me and put Kara Boston behind bars while the Rookie Lawyer acted as his shadow in court, defending me against the best of the best.
He succeeded on all fronts and the final 5 minutes I had to talk with Kara one last time closed a terrible chapter of my life.
"The reason I asked you to join me that day was because I saw my past self in you. Deny it all you want but...we are exactly the same"
She left me with those parting words. One I didn't believe at the time, as I returned to my big brother's side
Bruce and I were both enstranged from our family, but that didn't stop him from trying to give me a good life. Because he was still underage at the time, he used the lawyer's name to invest in stocks, forex and other business ventures with his life savings.
After living out of the lawyer's office for a couple of months with me, he finally bought a house in stone valley for the both of us, and started preparing to return to school.
He hired maids to take care of me since he got busy preparing for high school entrance exams— his excuse was that he was enthralled by otaku culture and wanted a real life maid, but I knew better.
We were together again, but I didn't know how to act around him, I couldn't express my emotions around him— my big brother was amazing, and I was still the same dependent parasite I always was. I know my brother will love me no matter what, but I couldn't just leech off his kindness forever
I resolved myself to try my best again, to work hard to be worthy of standing by his side.
I corrected my attitude and transfered into ninth grade, placing my efforts into excelling at academics, sports and social life. I could never measure up to my brother, but I was getting closer to him at my own pace.
For a while, I was happy. But—
"That prim and proper act of her makes me sick"
"She thinks she's all that just cause all the teachers like her and her brother's such a big shot? What a laugh"
"Hey, don't be like that. At least that idiot is useful as a wallet and we get to live on easy Street as her buddy"
"Yeah, you're right"
"Besides, we get to chat with the Bruce King just because we're one of that dumb cow's friends, score!"
"I know right?! Hey, do you think he'll go out with me?"
"You wish, haha. He's mine!"
Around the second semester, I happened to overhear my best friends chatting behind my back, they never once saw me as a friend, just a useful host.
They were parasites, but then again, I was the same as them.
I became worse at expressing my feelings towards my brother. I started avoiding him at school and whenever I was with my "friends" in an attempt to protect him from them, but even worse, my attitude towards him became more and more erratic. I didn't mean the words I said, I don't know what comes over me everytime he does something nice for me...
And in spite of all that, he never once got mad at me. He'd apologize everytime and try to calm me down.
I was disgusted with myself. I love my brother more than anything in this world, but I don't know how to control myself, Damn!
And in spite of my attitude, my brother still cares for me the same. He really is amazing, I just want to stand by his side. I made up my mind, if I can do just one thing in my own as well as my brother, that will be enough for someone like me.
There was no way I could measure up to my excellent brother who was better than everyone else, so I decided to make up for it in another way, in my own way, I will become excellent as well.
"We're exactly the same"..... Kara was right, and my approach proved it. If my circle of friends saw me as a host, then i just have to see them as parasites— Pawns in my game of Life.
Once I got to high school, I set my sights on the achievement my brother was rather proud of for some reason— student council president. There was no way I'd be able to become student council president in my first year just like he did or compete with him for it, but if I can at least maintain the legacy he leaves behind when he graduates, I should at least have enough confidence to stand by his side.
I started gathering parasites and pawns to manipulate for the sake of my goal—fooling everyone with my act and setting myself up for student council president. In my second year, he transfered in— the one person I couldn't conquer, Adam Graves.
Just what's his deal? And the way he looks at me as though he sees right through me, almost like he can read my mind or something.
Why.... Just who are you?
.
.
.
"Ugghhh... Feels like I just had a hangover"
I awoke in a dark room with no one inside. The last thing I remember was being enveloped by some weird cloth-like thing.
"I've gotta get out of here"
I pulled out one of my hairpins and headed to the door to pick the lock. About a minute or so later, I succeeded and pulled open the door, but then—
I was enveloped by darkness and unable to breathe... I could feel my body burning and could hear voices— incoherent whispers I couldn't make out
Huh?
I felt something grab my arm...a hand?
"..."
I tried to scream, but no sound came out. Just then, the...hand pulled me out of what looked like a black cocoon.
"Phew, that was close, I don't remember placing a trap in the lock. Oh well"
What grabbed me had two hands and legs, but with one look I could tell it wasn't human. Perhaps, it was a result of being chased by zombies and watching one of classmates turn into a wolf, but I wasn't scared.
"The name's Napmoth Hetof Riscmoorum, nice to meet you m'lady"
"W-Why did you save me?"
"Huh? Because you're a valuable hostage ofcourse"
"Hostage? Are you trying to get to my brother through me?! Like hell I'll let that happen"
I attempted to bite off my tongue, but it held my mouth, stopping me.
"Calm down, brother obsessed psycho. I was talking about your friends"
"Friends? What friends? If you mean those parasites, they're probably long gone by now"
"Hmmm.... And yet you risked yourself to save one of those... parasites"
"Yeah, well... I guess my body just moved on it's own"
Why did I even do that? Yeah, I guess maybe.... Because it's what Bruce would've done. Reminds me of when he injured his arm in that terrorist attack last year.
Something akin to a smile formed on.... it's face. Just then, the room lit up....there were monitors showing security camera footage of....
"No way, they....."
"That's right. They chose to play my game, risking their lives just to save you. You see those things on their necks? Those are bombs set to explode with the slightest misstep"
What? For a parasite like me....
I could stop the tears from leaving my eyes, how could they be so reckless? Just for someone like me....
"People are such fascinating creatures, aren't they. You're free to run by the way, just remember I have those "parasite's" lives in my hands"
I sat with it—the inhuman playing video games on his phone, watching my friends working to clear the first stage. I might've played alongside Adam for a bit, but... I didn't realize how cool he actually was till I watched him frantically clearing the first stage for my sake.
Once they finished the first stage, it sent a text to them, then turned to me.
"Now then, ten minutes till they have to risk their lives again. However, you can save them"
"What? How?"
I owe them that much for fighting for me, it's my turn to fight for them.
"During this ten minutes intermission, we'll play a game, one I was saving for stage 3, actually.....if you win, you and your parasites get to walk out of here immediately, no strings attached—"
"I'm in!"
"No hesitation?! Haha, you didn't even wait to hear what happens to you if you lose"
"It doesn't matter. They abandoned freedom to save me, so I'm willing to do the same. I'll sacrifice anything, including my life"
"I wouldn't go that far, but....."
A creepy smile formed on it's face
"Let's begin"
******************
"Could the Moth guy really be... The Butler?"
Even if I assume that's the case, what exactly is his goal behind all this. It's obvious the Chameleon case was just misdirection for his true objectives, however, for what that objective might be, I have no idea.
Did he just feel like kidnapping 4 randos? I doubt it, there must be something bigger here, something I'm not seeing.
"I hate to cut your reunion short but news lady—"
"—That's Ms Clark to you, boy"
"Uhmm..... News lady, please explain how you got in this situation"
I could hear a couple of people holding back laughter for some reason in the background, but ignored them. I was more interested in News lady's story.
"Sigh—I and Mr Allen over here came to Stone Valley about a month ago because we received an anonymous tip that's where The Chameleon was heading"
"The Chameleon? You mean that serial killer the valley's Holmes caught a couple weeks back?"
Ashley asked, suddenly interested in the testimony. News lady nodded and continued.
"I was able to trace the anonymous tip to a fortune teller operating in the shopping district and confronted him for more information....."
Well, aren't you just brutal. He sent an anonymous tip probably because he didn't want his identity to be exposed and yet you invaded his privacy anyway.
"....He informed me that the Chameleon's was using this place as a hideout so I came to investigate"
"Alone?"
A vein popped up on her head
"Yes, Alone. I was knocked unconscious and trapped here ever since"
"Do you have any idea of why you were kidnapped?"
"Perhaps the Chameleon was afraid of my talents as a reporter and wanted to silence my voice"
"If he wanted to silence you he would've just killed you, it kinda comes with the serial killer territory. Besides, as you just heard from extra 2 over there, that lizard has already been arrested so we can be sure he's not behind this"
Dead actually, but it's not all that important right now.
"Extra....2?"
The extra in question threw a kick at me from behind but I dodged effortlessly and continued
"Also, your captor went through the trouble of feeding you for a whole month, I doubt he'd do that if you didn't have value to him alive so I'm asking again, is there anything you can think of that might help us?"
"Hmmm? I don't know what to tell you, kid"
Sigh...What a pain.
"The fortune teller over here should have more info than me though"
"I'm telling you, I don't know anything!"
Four people indirectly related to the Chameleon serial murders trapped in a "haunted" hotel repurposed for some twisted, illogical game— The culprits intentions are a mystery and his goal unknown.
Then there's me, lucky enough to get a chance to capture that bastard. From what I read in Sara's books, while puppets given simple commands can be operated over a wide area, those like Napmoth who can talk, interact and perform other complex functions have to be controlled by someone— even better, the controller must be in very close proximity for it to work which is why it's not really all that efficient and rarely used. This means....
The Butler must be somewhere in this building.
To think I'll be met a chance to catch the butler so soon? What a stroke of good fortune— or is it? I'm pretty sure I'm not that lucky
"Hey, Jock. You're the one who told Michelle about this place, right?"
"Huh? How did you kn—"
"How did you hear about this place? Who told you?"
"Well—"
"Nevermind"
So he heard it from Anna Brown, the rep of class 2-2. Which means, I can trace it back to
Sara
"Sighhh—What was that psycho thinking?"
I muttered, covering my eyes with my palm.
I can almost picture her saying something like—
"Our interests aligned and I know how much you wanted to put that guy behind bars so I gave you an opportunity. Besides, when people are placed in dangerous situations, they tend to spill their secrets and past trauma to those around them far easier so it works out for me as well. Well, how do you like your surprise?"
TF's your problem?!
—Sigh, there's no point in wasting braincells trying to understand her train of thought, that energy is better spent making the most of this situation.
There are still several things I don't understand— The butler's aim in forcing a bunch of teenagers to play his crappy game, his true objective in aiding the chameleon, Sara's stake in all of this and that as well.
Well, once I nab the butler, most of my questions will be answered anyway.
*BEEP
Ten minutes had elapsed just like that, and we received a message on the phone.
The Second Stage will begin momentarily, stand by for instructions.