(click to enlarge)
STORYLINE: In the mad dash to evade the Enforcers, the team scattered. Minjo ducked into the nearest available door.
The corridor was a jarring contrast to the plastic surgery clinic’s sterile white. Here, everything glowed warm and decadent. Rich woods veined with brass lined the walls, dressed in Art Deco geometry that caught the amber light like gold scales. The air tasted faintly of mahogany and expensive old perfume.
At the end of the hall stood a brass door radiating importance.
She ran for it, heart hammering against her ribs. She pressed the gold serpent brooch to the kiosk.
“Welcome home, Mistress Paine,” the automated assistant repeated, just as brightly. The heavy door hissed open.
Footsteps echoed behind her.
Minjo slipped inside and dropped to the cold floor. She dove beneath a brass bed draped in elaborately embroidered green silk, breathing in the scent of dust and trapped air.
MasterGin’s voice cut through the corridor like a razor drawn across velvet. “Trying to break what belongs to me? How ambitious of you.”
“You can’t do this to me.” Paine's voice was tight, desperate.
“Oh, I already have.”
“I built this clinic. I run it.”
“And yet here we are. Think of it as a sabbatical. A very long one. Your only duty now is to ensure no one else harms a single hair on his head. Now go. Before I'm forced to correct what jealousy has done to your face.”
Heels receded, precise and unhurried.
Minjo pressed herself flat against the floorboards.
The door swung open.
"Welcome home, Mistress Paine," the automated assistant chirped once more.
Minjo shifted backward to bury herself deeper in the shadows.
Something heavy smashed against the wall. Shards of green glass rained down on her exit path. A single, jagged sliver skittered across the floor and slid under the bed skirt, coming to rest inches from her knee.
From under the folds of green silk, she watched.
The clinic administrator’s breathing was ragged. With furious, precise hands, Paine unzipped the pristine, clinical white coat. She stripped off her armor, letting it pool on the floor. Underneath, she wore a high-collared, Victorian-cut mourning dress of absolute black.
Minjo stilled. The cut. The collar. The severe line of the throat. She had seen it before on the Zone's nuns.
Paine slid down the wall. She pulled her knees to her chest as a choked sob escaped her throat. From her pocket, she retrieved a small object. Even in the dim amber light, Minjo recognized it. A lock of silver hair. Jihoon’s hair. Paine gripped it like a lifeline, staring at it with red-rimmed eyes.
Then, she activated her halophone.
She spoke, her voice hoarse. “April 13, 2055. Club Apophis. Five minutes to midnight.”
The phone projected a vibrant, archival hologram into the dark room. Sounds of a party bled into the silence. Clinking glasses, upbeat music, the layered chatter of the elite. MasterGin was on the screen, glowing with satisfaction. He was singing Happy Birthday. He lifted a glass, looking directly at a much younger, hopeful Paine.
He winked at her. “It’s going to be you.”
The crowd in the projection began to chant.
Ten. Nine. Eight.
Paine sat on the floor, watching her younger self wait.
Three. Two. One.
On the recording, the club's obsidian double doors opened. Brilliant, harsh streetlight poured into the dark gathering. The music died. The breathless silence of the crowd was absolute.
Standing in the doorway wasn't a deity. Not a warrior. Not a devoted disciple. It was an ordinary, bewildered university student who had wandered in off the street.
Jihoon blinked into the lights. "Hi."
No one on screen moved.
Paine killed the projection. The room plunged back into heavy, suffocating silence.
She didn’t move. The immaculate facade of the clinic administrator dissolved entirely. She stared at the large brass-rimmed mirror on the wall. Slowly, thick dark tears tracked through her pristine makeup, dripping down to stain the stiff white collar of her dress. The woman looking back at her was a stranger. Her breaths came in jagged gasps that scraped against the quiet of the room.
Minjo shifted her weight. Her knee grazed the rogue shard of glass. It barely made a sound against the floorboards, but in the dead silence of the room, it detonated.
Paine’s head snapped up.
In a fraction of a second, raw, humiliated outrage overwhelmed her grief. She flew across the room and kicked the heavy brass bed aside with a jarring metallic scrape. A pair of heavy medical shears gleamed in her fist.
Minjo froze. Her mind calculated the distance to the door, the angle of the steel blade, and her absolute zero percent chance of survival.
Paine glared down at her, ready to kill. Her eyes bloodshot, wide with manic fury. Thick mucus hung over her lip, mixing with the dark, wet tracks of her destroyed makeup. She was an open wound, and someone had dared to spy on it.
Shears raised. Her eyes focused on Minjo’s face, but the execution stalled.
Minjo watched the rapid calculation wash over Paine. The murderous heat left her face like a flame starved of oxygen. This was the girl who had nearly died for Yoon Jihoon.
Slowly, Paine lowered the shears.
"I didn't mean to pry," Minjo said. She kept her voice perfectly even. "I just needed a place to hide." She nodded toward the silver strands still clutched in Paine's other hand. “You disguised your betrayal with a smaller one. Brilliant.”
Paine looked down at the hair. "Twenty years," she whispered. Her voice was entirely hollow. "I gave him twenty years of devotion. I bled for him. He forgot I existed the second that boy walked through the door."
Minjo considered this new detail. "He told you it was going to be you."
“I was the strongest of his disciples,” Paine said bitterly. “MasterGin had been preparing for centuries. I thought I was the culmination of it all. But I wasn't. None of us were."
Paine turned back to Minjo. The shame vanished from her eyes, replaced by something worse.
"I followed the false god," Paine said, her voice dropping to a fierce whisper. "And I was envious of the real one."
Paine sank slowly to her knees. She bowed her head deeply, almost pressing her forehead against the dusty floorboards, to the university student she had nearly killed a minute ago.
“I didn’t understand, but I do now. Someone appeared by chance. Seemingly unworthy.”
“Chaos,” Minjo added flatly. “A god of chaos would find that amusing.”
“No. Jihoon was one of us, a Child of Apophis. He is the Lost One. Please accept my apology," Paine whispered to the floor. "My envy blinded me. I will serve the true Chosen One. As the advocate of Yoon Jihoon, how may I assist you?”
Minjo looked at the woman kneeling before her. She didn’t offer comfort. She didn't offer a speech about forgiveness. The variables of her survival had just changed. She needed to exploit them.
Minjo dusted off her knees and rose.
"Can you get us into the ceremony?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I need to know exactly what happened to Jihoon when he entered Club Apophis. I need the logistics of the Opening of the Mouth ceremony, Monstrum, and the Old Ways." Minjo reached out and plucked the silver strands from Paine's unresisting hand. "And I’ll be taking this mutant DNA sample. Thank you for your assistance.”
For those still following along for the continuing storyline, this chapter just revealed who the Magic Mirror is in my cyberpunk horror retelling of Snow White. Paine is the mirror to MasterGin's evil queen. lol The Prince and the Huntsman will be revealed, as well as wrapping up the character arcs for Lisa, Ghost, Echo and Jihoon. I estimate there are roughly 4 more chapters left and an epilogue. What a journey!
From under the folds of green silk, she watched.
The clinic administrator’s breathing was ragged. With furious, precise hands, Paine unzipped the pristine, clinical white coat. She stripped off her armor, letting it pool on the floor. Underneath, she wore a high-collared, Victorian-cut mourning dress of absolute black.
Minjo stilled. The cut. The collar. The severe line of the throat. She had seen it before on the Zone's nuns.
Paine slid down the wall. She pulled her knees to her chest as a choked sob escaped her throat. From her pocket, she retrieved a small object. Even in the dim amber light, Minjo recognized it. A lock of silver hair. Jihoon’s hair. Paine gripped it like a lifeline, staring at it with red-rimmed eyes.
Then, she activated her halophone.
She spoke, her voice hoarse. “April 13, 2055. Club Apophis. Five minutes to midnight.”
The phone projected a vibrant, archival hologram into the dark room. Sounds of a party bled into the silence. Clinking glasses, upbeat music, the layered chatter of the elite. MasterGin was on the screen, glowing with satisfaction. He was singing Happy Birthday. He lifted a glass, looking directly at a much younger, hopeful Paine.
He winked at her. “It’s going to be you.”
The crowd in the projection began to chant.
Ten. Nine. Eight.
Paine sat on the floor, watching her younger self wait.
Three. Two. One.
On the recording, the club's obsidian double doors opened. Brilliant, harsh streetlight poured into the dark gathering. The music died. The breathless silence of the crowd was absolute.
Standing in the doorway wasn't a deity. Not a warrior. Not a devoted disciple. It was an ordinary, bewildered university student who had wandered in off the street.
Jihoon blinked into the lights. "Hi."
No one on screen moved.
Paine killed the projection. The room plunged back into heavy, suffocating silence.
She didn’t move. The immaculate facade of the clinic administrator dissolved entirely. She stared at the large brass-rimmed mirror on the wall. Slowly, thick dark tears tracked through her pristine makeup, dripping down to stain the stiff white collar of her dress. The woman looking back at her was a stranger. Her breaths came in jagged gasps that scraped against the quiet of the room.
Minjo shifted her weight. Her knee grazed the rogue shard of glass. It barely made a sound against the floorboards, but in the dead silence of the room, it detonated.
Paine’s head snapped up.
In a fraction of a second, raw, humiliated outrage overwhelmed her grief. She flew across the room and kicked the heavy brass bed aside with a jarring metallic scrape. A pair of heavy medical shears gleamed in her fist.
Minjo froze. Her mind calculated the distance to the door, the angle of the steel blade, and her absolute zero percent chance of survival.
Paine glared down at her, ready to kill. Her eyes bloodshot, wide with manic fury. Thick mucus hung over her lip, mixing with the dark, wet tracks of her destroyed makeup. She was an open wound, and someone had dared to spy on it.
Shears raised. Her eyes focused on Minjo’s face, but the execution stalled.
Minjo watched the rapid calculation wash over Paine. The murderous heat left her face like a flame starved of oxygen. This was the girl who had nearly died for Yoon Jihoon.
Slowly, Paine lowered the shears.
"I didn't mean to pry," Minjo said. She kept her voice perfectly even. "I just needed a place to hide." She nodded toward the silver strands still clutched in Paine's other hand. “You disguised your betrayal with a smaller one. Brilliant.”
Paine looked down at the hair. "Twenty years," she whispered. Her voice was entirely hollow. "I gave him twenty years of devotion. I bled for him. He forgot I existed the second that boy walked through the door."
Minjo considered this new detail. "He told you it was going to be you."
“I was the strongest of his disciples,” Paine said bitterly. “MasterGin had been preparing for centuries. I thought I was the culmination of it all. But I wasn't. None of us were."
Paine turned back to Minjo. The shame vanished from her eyes, replaced by something worse.
"I followed the false god," Paine said, her voice dropping to a fierce whisper. "And I was envious of the real one."
Paine sank slowly to her knees. She bowed her head deeply, almost pressing her forehead against the dusty floorboards, to the university student she had nearly killed a minute ago.
“I didn’t understand, but I do now. Someone appeared by chance. Seemingly unworthy.”
“Chaos,” Minjo added flatly. “A god of chaos would find that amusing.”
“No. Jihoon was one of us, a Child of Apophis. He is the Lost One. Please accept my apology," Paine whispered to the floor. "My envy blinded me. I will serve the true Chosen One. As the advocate of Yoon Jihoon, how may I assist you?”
Minjo looked at the woman kneeling before her. She didn’t offer comfort. She didn't offer a speech about forgiveness. The variables of her survival had just changed. She needed to exploit them.
Minjo dusted off her knees and rose.
"Can you get us into the ceremony?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I need to know exactly what happened to Jihoon when he entered Club Apophis. I need the logistics of the Opening of the Mouth ceremony, Monstrum, and the Old Ways." Minjo reached out and plucked the silver strands from Paine's unresisting hand. "And I’ll be taking this mutant DNA sample. Thank you for your assistance.”
For those still following along for the continuing storyline, this chapter just revealed who the Magic Mirror is in my cyberpunk horror retelling of Snow White. Paine is the mirror to MasterGin's evil queen. lol The Prince and the Huntsman will be revealed, as well as wrapping up the character arcs for Lisa, Ghost, Echo and Jihoon. I estimate there are roughly 4 more chapters left and an epilogue. What a journey!
This post was inspired by the series and wonderful items on this round of Engine Room which ends tomorrow. The setting has so many lovely things, and both outfits are gorgeous. ...On MasterGin is the Nixon outfit by OneDays. It's one-piece outfit you buy in a single color or fatback. ...On the long suffering Paine is the Rebis Scholar Garments. It comes in fits for men and women. It has textures in PBR that give the metallic edges sparkle. ...From Milkbath is the Censer. Just wear it and it will trigger a 1 of 4 poses which you can alter in the texture hud. It comes in left and righted version, swing, and non swing. .... From Cult is the Cornelia boots (shown below). They are elegant gothic style with metallic details. But I really love the suede texture options, along with the leather. ...The Bedroom set is by Eclectica. It includes the bed, dressers, mirrors, and lamps. It comes with a texture hud to change the metal color, and fabrics. ...From Lore is the Captain's Lounge Chair, tables, and lamp. They are PBR with a hud to change the chair textures. ...Also from Lore is matching skybox, Nemo's study. Its fantastic with elegant PBR textures. ...From Duplexity is an art deco Radio. ...From Ishiku is another stunning crystal glass set, Vintage Floral Decanter. It's mod, so I tinted it green to match my theme. ...From Puddles is the Royal Scribe's Collection with lectern, feather pen, and book stack. ...From Apika is the spooky Madame Palmelope, a hand holding a teacup, that when touched, will give you your fortune. ..In the back, is the Architect Volta fireplace. I tinted the flames green for a spooky effect.
The Apophis series will be taking a break for the first time in almost a year, as I shift to blogging the Fantasy Faire. Be looking forward to it. Apophis will return after that.
On Her, Nurse Paine:
Headdress: ONEDAYs - UNHOLY HEADRESS [UNRIGED]
Hair: Limerence - Tamesis hair [mesh](990L)
Gloves: ContraptioN - Dapper Dandy's Glove, Maitreya [mesh]
Tears: SAXO - Bleeding Eyes lel EVOX Unisex [BOM]
Eyes: VelvetVue - Hibrida blue eyes :: sclera #1 [BOM]
Skin: VOGLIA - ELEKTRA Skin, EvoX, Icy With Brows [BOM]
Head, eyes: LeLUTKA - RAVEN 4.0 [mesh](3990L)
Body: TheShops - Legacy (f) Special Edition (Basic) 1.2 [mesh]
On Him, MasterGin:
Shoes: Deadwool - Dandy shoes - non rigged - black/silver wingtip [mesh](360L)
Claws: L'Emporio&PL - Oblio Vampire Claws male [mesh](350L)
Hair: bonbon - tame hair, naturals [mesh](439L)
Body: TheShops - [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.7.1) [mesh](5000L)
Setting:
Fireplace: Architect - Volta Fireplace [mesh]
Skybox: LORE - Nemo's Study [PBR] [mesh]
BONUS IMAGES: inworld raw shot, hi-res, midday sky.
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