BLACKMAIL

Nestled in the heart of Los Blancos, Eclipse Park was a lush oasis amidst the concrete jungle. This 12-acre haven boasted majestic palm trees, their slender trunks swaying gently in the breeze. Vibrant flowers and manicured hedges added splashes of color, while the soft chirping of birds and the gentle burble of a meandering stream created a soothing melody. Ben Jackson let out a disgusted sigh as he gazed at his reflection in the mirror. It was 6:11 AM, and what had promised to be a lucrative night had turned out to be a complete waste of time and money. "I'm getting rusty," he muttered, frustration etched on his face. He raked his fingers through his perfectly gelled hair, leaving it unruly and messy.

The night before, Ben had received a tip about a potential drug deal going down at a seedy bar in downtown Easton. He had followed the lead, his camera at the ready, convinced that he was on the verge of something big. And then, he had spotted Tay Wheatley, a renowned rapper and one of the most influential figures in hip-hop over the past twenty years, walking into the bar.

Ben's instincts had told him that this was it, the big break he had been waiting for. But as he watched, Wheatley had simply answered a phone call, stood up from his bar stool, and walked out without even ordering a drink. It was as if someone had tipped him off.

Ben's mind immediately went to Sameer, the shady informant who had provided him with the tip. Sameer had cost him $50, and Ben wouldn't put it past him to have double-crossed him. He probably had, Ben thought, anger rising up within him. He would bet a million bucks – money he didn't have – that Sameer had sold him out.Breaking out of his thoughts, Ben shoved his hands into his pockets and stared at an empty bench in the corner of the park. He walked over to it and sat down, his demeanor that of a defeated man. He was running behind the deadline Ulysses had given him, and his job was on the line. To make matters worse, he had wasted precious money that could have been used for something important...like groceries.

Ben was still engrossed in his self-loathing when he felt the atmosphere around him tighten, like a wall was closing in on him. The hairs on his arms stood on end, as if he was being zapped with electricity. He lifted his eyes and camera, capturing purplish-black lightning bolts appearing in the air, forming a vortex. But Ben was even more shocked to see a figure drop out of the vortex onto the cold grass.

He approached the figure slowly, his camera still recording, held up like a weapon. The humanoid figure rose from the ground, looking around in confusion, then slowly turned its head toward Ben. They both froze, locked in a silent stare.

Ben's smirk grew wider as he snapped a photo of Charlee Tyre, who looked utterly bewildered in her SpongeBob SquarePants pajamas and with her hair sticking out in every direction. But what really made this shot a career-maker was the fact that she had literally appeared out of thin air. "Well, I'll be damned," Ben muttered to himself, barely containing his excitement. This was the scoop of a lifetime, and he had it all on camera.

—_—

Charlee's POV

I woke up to the screeching of my alarm clock, groggily reaching over to turn it off. But in my half-asleep state, I misjudged the distance and ended up throwing the alarm clock across the room. It smashed through the wall, leaving a gaping hole. I didn't even notice, too caught up in my desire to go back to sleep.

As I drifted off, my mind began to wander. I was in Eclipse Park, walking along the winding paths and admiring the lush greenery. But then, something strange happened. I felt a strange sensation, like I was being pulled apart and put back together again.

I fell to the ground, my body feeling heavy and disoriented. For a minute, I just lay there, trying to catch my breath and clear my head. But as the seconds ticked by, I slowly began to realize that something was off. The ground beneath me was hard and unforgiving, not the soft, comfortable mattress I was used to.

I sat up slowly, looking around in confusion. Where was I? This wasn't my bedroom. The trees, the grass, the sound of birds chirping...it all came flooding back to me. I was in Eclipse Park.

Panic set in as I scrambled to my feet. How did I get here? And what time was it? The sun was just starting to rise, casting a golden glow over the park. I was still in my SpongeBob SquarePants pajamas, and my hair was a tangled mess.

That's when I saw him - a paparazzo, standing on the path and snapping photos of me with his camera. My heart sank as I realized I had been caught.The paparazzo began to snap photos, and I knew I had to act fast.

For a moment, I considered killing him. It would be easy enough, and it would solve the problem. But then I hesitated. I didn't know if he had already sent the photos to someone, or if he had a way of transmitting them instantly. If I killed him, I could be making things worse. I stood tall, trying to hide the fact that I was still reeling from the shock of being caught teleporting. My pajamas felt ridiculous, and I could feel my face burning with embarrassment.

The paparazzo, a sly and seasoned veteran of the tabloid game, sneered at me from behind his camera lens. I could see the excitement in his eyes, the thrill of the scoop. He knew he had me cornered.

"You're quite the celebrity, aren't you?" he taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "Teleporting around like a superhero. I've got the whole thing on camera. This is going to be the scoop of a lifetime."

I felt a wave of panic wash over me. This was a disaster. I had to think fast, or risk having my secret exposed to the world. I took a deep breath and tried to compose myself.

I took a deep breath and tried to think clearly. I needed to get him to delete the photos, and to agree not to run the story. I could offer him money, or a job. Something to make it worth his while to keep quiet.

"Listen, I don't know what you want, but I'm willing to make you a deal," I said, trying to sound calm and confident.

The paparazzo raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the offer. "I'm listening," he said, his voice dripping with skepticism.

I smiled, trying to appear nonchalant. "A million dollars, and a job with Los Blancos Tribune,You'll be set for life."

The paparazzo's eyes narrowed, and he stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I don't know...I've got a buyer lined up who's willing to pay top dollar for this story. Ulysses, my boss at the Daily Scoop, is salivating at the prospect of running this exclusive."

I felt a surge of anger at the mention of Ulysses' name. That man was a menace, always sensationalizing and distorting the truth to sell papers. But I kept my cool, knowing that I had to stay focused if I was going to get out of this situation.

"I'm not kidding around," I warned, trying to sound menacing. "If you don't take my deal, I'll have to take...measures to protect myself. I'm not a hero, I'm more of a...pragmatist. Let's just say I'm willing to do whatever it takes to keep my secret safe."

The paparazzo swallowed hard, his eyes darting back and forth as he weighed his options. I could see the greed in his eyes, the temptation of the million dollars and the job offer. But I also saw a glimmer of fear, a hint that he knew he was playing with fire.

"Okay, deal," he said finally, a sly smile spreading across his face. "But I'm only doing this for the money."

I smiled back, a cold, calculated smile. "I wouldn't have it any other way. Meet me in my office tomorrow to sign the papers. And don't think about trying to double-cross me. I have...ways of dealing with people who betray me."

The paparazzo nodded, his eyes locked on mine as he backed away slowly. I watched him go, feeling a mix of relief and unease. I knew I had just made a deal with a man who couldn't be trusted, but I also knew I had to protect myself at all costs besides I could always kill him if he betrayed me.