Failure and Intrusion

Christoph leaned against the cold steel of the train’s lavatory door, the pill pinched tightly between his fingers. His heart thudded against his chest, a mix of desperation and frustration building. He couldn’t fail—not again. The app was his only chance to turn his life around, to rewrite the story everyone else had written for him. Without it, he was nothing. With it, he could be everything. The app pulsed faintly in his other hand, the screen flashing an insistent reminder:

"Administer the blue pill to your chosen target to begin the process. Success is mandatory."

He scowled, his mind racing. He had chosen the tall Black woman sitting confidently in her seat. Everything about her—from her sharp blazer to her focused demeanor—radiated a sense of control that Christoph found infuriating. "They always think they’re better than me," he muttered, his grip tightening on the pill. "Acting superior, just like the rest."

Before he could focus on his main target, Christoph decided to try his luck with the petite Arab woman wearing a neatly styled hijab. She exuded kindness, her soft features framed by her modest clothing. "She’ll be easier," he thought. "They always are."

Christoph approached her seat, clumsily holding out a bottle of water. “Excuse me, I noticed you’ve been working hard. Thought you might need this,” he said, forcing a smile.

The woman looked up, her large, expressive eyes filled with hesitation. “Oh, um, thank you, but I already have water,” she said, gesturing to the half-full bottle on her tray table.

“Right, of course,” Christoph stammered, stepping back. He fumbled the pill back into his pocket, his face burning. “Figures,” he muttered under his breath. “Acting all innocent, but they’re always suspicious. Typical.” Deep down, he knew it wasn’t her fault—his sweaty shirt, awkward manner, and stale odor were hard to ignore. But in Christoph’s mind, none of that mattered. They were always judging him, weren’t they? Looking down on him, like he wasn’t worth their time. The app would change that. Soon, they’d all see who was really in control.

His next target was the quiet Asian woman tucked into the corner, sketching intently in her notebook. Her oversized sweater hung loosely off one shoulder, revealing smooth skin, and her concentration seemed unshakable. Christoph saw her as an easy opportunity—surely, she wouldn’t notice him slipping the pill into her belongings.

He crouched near her seat, pretending to tie his shoe, and carefully reached toward the open pocket of her bag. But just as he dropped the pill in, her pencil paused, and she turned to him, her brows furrowed.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice soft but wary.

“Uh—just—just picking this up!” Christoph grabbed a random pen from the floor, holding it up as if it were the key to his salvation.

Her frown deepened. “That’s not mine.”

“Right, sorry. Must’ve rolled under your seat,” he stammered, retreating quickly. His heart raced, and embarrassment flooded him. "Even the quiet ones think they’re better than me," he muttered, slumping into his seat. "Unbelievable."

By now, Christoph was ****. He turned his focus back to his original target: the tall Black woman sitting confidently near the center of the train. Her coffee sat untouched on the tray table as she worked intently on her tablet. Christoph figured he could crush the pill and slip it into her drink.

Hovering awkwardly near her seat, he pretended to adjust his bag. His fingers trembled as he pulled out the pill and glanced around. But before he could act, she glanced up, her sharp eyes locking onto him. Her nose wrinkled slightly as if catching his stale odor.

“What are you doing?” she demanded, her tone clipped and unimpressed.

“I—uh—I thought you dropped this,” he stammered, holding up a napkin he had grabbed at random.

Her glare could have frozen fire. “I didn’t drop anything. Move along.”

Christoph backed away, his face burning with humiliation. "Typical," he muttered as he shuffled to the other end of the car. "Always so defensive. They act like I’m the problem just because I’m white." But deep down, he knew it wasn’t his skin color—it was him.

By the time the train pulled into the station in Luxembourg City, Christoph was fuming. None of his attempts had worked. His incompetence was glaring, but he refused to accept it. “They’re the problem,” he muttered to himself, watching as the tall Black woman exited the train.

He decided to follow her, staying several paces behind and ducking into shadows whenever she glanced over her shoulder. She walked with the same confidence she had on the train, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement. Christoph couldn’t stand it.

Eventually, she entered a well-maintained neighborhood filled with modern apartments and neatly trimmed trees. Christoph’s lip curled in a mix of envy and disdain. "Of course," he muttered under his breath. "Living it up while people like me get nothing. They always think they’re better."

She stopped at the entrance to an upscale apartment complex, punching in a code on the keypad. Christoph watched from across the street, committing the numbers to memory. Once she disappeared inside, he slumped against a nearby wall, pulling out the app.

"Failure is not an option," it reminded him. The words pulsed on the screen, mocking him.

“I’ll show you,” he growled, glaring at the building. “I’m not leaving until this is done.”

Christoph waited until the lights in her apartment dimmed, signaling she had gone to bed. Then he made his move. He retrieved a worn lock-pick set from his pocket—a relic of his small-time criminal past. The app didn’t guide him now; this was his expertise.

With a quiet confidence, he crouched at the door and began working on the lock. The familiar clicks of the pins falling into place steadied his nerves, and within minutes, the door creaked open. A rush of satisfaction flooded through him. "Still got it," he muttered, stepping inside.

The apartment was pristine, every surface gleaming, every item neatly arranged. It smelled faintly of lavender, a sharp contrast to the stale sweat clinging to Christoph’s clothes. He wrinkled his nose. "Figures," he muttered. "Everything about her is so perfect. Let’s see how long that lasts."

He moved silently through the living room, his eyes scanning for an opportunity. On the counter, he spotted an open bottle of wine, half-filled. Perfect. He crushed the blue pill into a fine powder and tipped it into the glass, swirling the liquid until it dissolved completely.

Just as he stepped back, the sound of footsteps froze him in place. His heart hammered as the apartment door creaked open. She entered the room, muttering to herself about forgetting her phone. Her sharp eyes scanned the room and landed on him instantly.

“What the hell are you doing in my apartment?” she demanded, her voice sharp with anger.

Christoph panicked. He knew his Luck stat was abysmal, and this only confirmed it. "Not now," he thought, clenching his fists. "This can’t go wrong now."

He tried to talk his way out. “I—uh—thought you needed help with your door. It was open.”

“Help? You broke in, you psycho!” she snapped, stepping back toward the door.

Seeing her intent to escape, Christoph lunged forward, grabbing her arm. She twisted free and bolted for the exit. He chased her, his heavy frame pounding across the floor, barely keeping up. Just as she reached the door, he lunged again, slamming it shut before she could escape.

She whirled on him, fury in her eyes, and swung her fist. Christoph barely saw it coming before it connected with his face, sending him reeling. He stumbled but kept his grip on the door.

“That’s it!” he snarled, diving at her. His weight toppled them both, sending her crashing to the floor with him on top. The impact left her dazed, her head hitting the hardwood with a dull thud. Christoph’s heart pounded as he realized she wasn’t moving.

Sweat poured down his face as he scrambled to his feet. “God, this wasn’t supposed to happen,” he muttered, staring at her **** form. The app buzzed in his pocket, as if urging him forward.

“Right,” he said, grabbing the glass of wine. He knelt beside her, tilting her head back and pressing the rim to her lips. The liquid dribbled into her mouth, and he massaged her throat to ensure she swallowed. His hands trembled, but he didn’t stop until the glass was empty.

The app buzzed again, a new notification lighting up the screen. Christoph’s eyes widened, his heart racing with a twisted thrill. The glowing words on the display weren’t just confirmation—they were validation. This was the moment he had been waiting for. "Finally," he whispered, gripping the phone tightly. The app was proving its worth, giving him not just power but a tangible sense of achievement. He was no longer the failure everyone thought he was. With each XP gained, his dependency on the app deepened, the pull of its promises too strong to resist.

"Quest 1 complete: Target successfully activated. You have earned 50 XP."

Christoph slumped against the counter, a dark smile spreading across his face. He had done it. After all his failures, his incompetence, and his near misses, he had finally succeeded.

As he stared at the glowing screen, another message appeared:

"Role assignment in progress. Await instructions for Quest 2 in the next phase."

Christoph’s grin widened, anticipation coursing through him. Whatever came next, he was ready.

Dear Readers,

Thank you all for participating in the recent poll! The results are in, and like you saw in the Chapter the Black woman has been selected as Christoph’s first target. Your choice will shape the next phase of the story as Christoph begins his manipulative journey.

Now, it’s time to decide two important factors that will define her character and role in the narrative. Because of the circumstances of her activation, she begins to develop a form of Stockholm Syndrome. The following roles reflect how her dependency and **** devotion to Christoph evolve over time, while her job options ensure that she operates under the supervision of a partner or boss, limiting her autonomy and initial influence:

Poll 1: What role should she play in Christoph’s system?

Submissive Partner:

Her independence and strength give way to emotional and physical dependence on Christoph. Through Stockholm Syndrome, she begins to rationalize her captivity, convincing herself that she is better off as Christoph’s devoted partner.

Financial Provider:

As she succumbs to Christoph’s control, she begins channeling her limited financial resources and connections to Christoph’s goals. Her growing loyalty and dependence override her professional judgment.

Dominated Leader:

While she retains her small leadership position or role under a partner or boss, her psychological dependency on Christoph drives her to subtly advance his goals, even as she appears outwardly competent and controlled.

https://strawpoll.com/1Mnwkq6r1n7

Poll 2: What is her job?

Management Consultant with a Partner:

She co-manages a small consultancy with a close partner. They handle strategic planning for local businesses and high-net-worth individuals, but her partner has equal control over decisions and clients.

Junior Investment Advisor:

She works under the direction of a senior financial planner in a boutique investment firm. She manages a few small portfolios but takes orders directly from her boss, limiting her independence.

Architectural Designer with a Senior Partner:

She is part of a small architecture and design firm, working under a senior architect who oversees the major projects. Her role focuses on assisting with design plans and client interactions, but all approvals and strategies go through her boss.

https://strawpoll.com/NMnQNGWJwg6

Poll 3: Interested in Side Quests?

Would you like Christoph to tackle optional side quests in addition to the main storyline? These would add depth to the world and provide opportunities to explore Christoph’s development and test the app’s capabilities in new ways.

Yes: Bring on the side quests!

No: Focus solely on the main story.

https://strawpoll.com/Dwyo3wPLXyA

Poll 4: Preferred Visual Style for Story Images

What style of visuals do you prefer to accompany the story?

Style 1:

Style 2:

Style 3:

https://strawpoll.com/jVyG2Vx6kZ7

Note about Poll 2: The question of her job is primarily precautionary for world-building purposes, as the main story will take Christoph down a different path. It’s still fun to know what you think her professional background should be, but it might not play a central role in the plot.

Note about Pole4: the Votes for 1 and 2 are counting together because they are Both non-realistic.

Thank you for being part of this interactive journey. Your input makes the story richer and more engaging—let me know your thoughts in the comments!