Chaos Moon (4)
Alesha stared at Layla like a deer caught in headlights, one of her fingers still in her mouth.
Layla walked quickly up to her, grabbed her shoulders and had her face the sink. "Wash your hands," she commanded quietly, the tone in her voice causing Alesha to comply immediately.
Hands still on her shoulders, Layla spoke softly into her ear. "So. You can't tell me how you've changed after the attack, but you can sniff at, lick, and then eat raw chicken as if it was the most delicious chocolate cake in the world?"
Alesha didn't respond, just continued washing her hands.
Layla sighed, turning around and leaning back over the other side of the sink, moving her head so that she caught Alesha's eyes. "I know something is going on with you. You were fine watching the streams earlier, then you suddenly aren't? Why is that? What changed? It was after you showed me the moon."
"When I went to find you to show you the streams, you were out there staring at the moon as if it were your long-lost lover. That same moon made me fear for my life. Then, after you showed the moon to me, you refused to watch the streams anymore and came over to make dinner instead. Only to become obsessed with a piece of raw chicken -- which you, Alesha Williams, have always been overly cautious of touching because you're germaphobic."
"So, who are you and what have you done with my sister? Or, what sort of demon made you this way?"
Alesha froze, the hot water running over her hands.
A dozen possible ways to respond flashed through her mind. "Wow, Layla, you're so smart! I should have known you'd catch on fast." "I'm not sure who I am anymore, I've changed so much. Am I even human? Is it already too late?" "Man I'm so glad I didn't have to keep this from you any longer. The System can't stop you from figuring it out on your own, at least."
She knew none of those would work.
Before she would be able to get out a word, the System would stop her from speaking.
So how could she respond? Layla was already suspicious, even questioning her identity. Right now would be a really helpful time for the System to give her a plausible answer.
It remained silent.
Instead, another ding and system window announced the arrival of another Chaos Energy point.
[+1 Chaos Energy]
For some reason, accumulating the Chaos Energy tonight felt incredibly different from when she had done so earlier, before leveling up. Instead of having to trust the numbers on her status screen to know it was increasing, tonight she felt a surge of energy within her with every point added. Her Chaos Energy was at 6 out of 10 now, and once it reached the max capacity, she would have to expend it. She planned to make more bottles of Mystery Potion when the time came.
Meanwhile, Layla was still waiting for a response.
She watched as her sister gradually started to play with the water. Then, she flicked her forehead. "Hey! Elantris to Alesha, you there? You zoned out trying to think of an answer, didn't you?"
Shaking herself out of her reverie, Alesha turned off the water and dried off her hands, then gave Layla a sad smile. She responded quietly, "Layla, I am still me. My eyes are different, my -- but my soul is the same. I'm still your sister and I always will be. And… you don't have to worry about me. My tastes have changed a little, that's all, and I'm still getting used to it."
Layla looked doubtful. "Well, if you say so," she relented, motioning with her first two fingers from her eyes to Alesha's. "But I'm keeping an eye on you. I want to make sure you're okay."
Alesha's smile was genuine this time. "Thanks," she replied, giving a stiff Layla a hug. Layla wasn't really the physically affectionate type, but she was used to it by now. Everyone in their family, except for her, was pretty touchy with their love.
"Do you want help finishing dinner?" Layla asked.
Alesha shrugged. "Only if you want to."
----
45 minutes later
With dinner made and eaten, Dennis was tasked with dish duty and the family dispersed. Layla went to her room to call a friend, Mom and Dad decided to go to the gym together, and Alesha sat on the couch, her legs bouncing restlessly.
She was looking at her Status Screen.
Nothing had changed from last time, except one thing: Chaos Energy.
[Chaos Energy: 10/10]
As planned, she pulled up the Energy Shop, intending to "purchase" Mystery Potions once again.
[Chaos Energy "Shop":
However, she wasn't so lucky.
When she clicked on the corresponding button to do so, nothing happened. It was then that she realized that the option to do so was now grayed out.
"System!? What is going on here!? You never tell me anything before it becomes a problem!" She seethed internally.
[I don't see a problem,] the System said, its androgynous voice sounding entirely too smug.
"Not a problem?! Not a problem?! I'm here capped out at 10/10 Chaos Energy with no viable way to get rid of it and you don't see a problem?!"
[What do you mean, no viable way to get rid of it?] The System teased, playing dumb to her concerns. An edge of barely concealed glee peeked through as it continued, [There's a perfectly viable option right in front of you.]
The
"But why is the Mystery Potion grayed out?!"
[You can only possess up to 5 bottles of it at a time. I do not know why.]
"You don't know why, my butt! You did this on purpose!" She was upset enough by now that this came out verbally, in a hissing whisper.
[While I admit that does sound like something I would do, I regrettably am not the culprit of this. I would not be able to contradict this rule even if I wanted to. Which, as I'm sure you've guessed by now, I don't.]
She hurriedly brought the 5 bottles out of her inventory and set them on the couch beside her.
The button did not change.
"Dammit!" she cursed under her breath, returning them to her inventory. Taking them out had done nothing.
Turning back to the shop, Alesha chewed on a nail and stared with dread at the
So this is what it had come to? The System maneuvering her into a corner so that she had no choice but to leave behind her humanity to survive?
She clutched her head in her hands as her knees shook rapidly, sending tremors through her whole body. This was a worst-case scenario. What could she even do?!
There had to be a way around this. She couldn't let the System manipulate her like this, no way!
If there was no way out, then dammit, she'd just have to make one.