Climbing the ladders

Saturday evening

-...it was horrible. She grabbed Lacy from behind and, and that green goo just covered her face!-.

Stephanie Moore—whom you'd never met until she knocked on your door in desperation half an hour ago—grips the coffee cup you made for her, trembling. Tina stands behind her, gently rubbing her shoulder to calm her. Stephanie's story sounds like something straight out of a horror movie, but you know every word of it is real.

-I-I only managed to run away. Stephanie's mind was so frantic when I absorbed her... I think I blacked out. Oh God, I just left her there…-.

-It's not your fault. We should have seen this coming.- Tina reassures her softly, her touch calming the distraught woman, though she nods back hesitantly. Your gaze lingers for a moment on Steph's blouse—the top buttons undone, giving a tantalizing glimpse of her full chest—but you **** yourself to focus, pushing those thoughts aside.

-Do you think Charity was specifically after them?- You ask her. Stephanie hesitates, then shakes her head.

-No. I think we... I mean, Lacy and Sally, were collateral damage. I... I mean, the old Stephanie always suspected that Darius and Geneviève were hiding something shady. Maybe Charity knew more, and she was after them.-.

-Shady how?- You press, but Stephanie only whispers that she isn't sure.

-That's okay. The important thing is you're safe now.- Tina gives you a meaningful look, and though you grimace, you know she's right. Stephanie's exhausted and emotionally wrecked. There's no sense pushing her further tonight. Besides, what she's already told you is enough to think over for the rest of the evening.

-Mind if I hit the shower?- Stephanie asks weakly. After she heads upstairs, Tina slams her hand down on the table in frustration as you rub your mouth in thought.

-Fuck! How is Charity always one step ahead? She's too fast!- Her voice trembles with frustration. You wonder if she's second-guessing her decision not to possess Nadira, but you decide to leave that unspoken. Instead, what concerns you more is Stephanie's description of that green goo taking over Lacy.

-What do you think about how she subjugated Lacy?-.

-I don't know. Maybe she was trying to possess her? But she couldn't... wait. What if she was trying to **** us out of her?-.

-But that's impossible.- You frown. It's not arrogance, you have good reason to believe it: -If Charity could do that, she'd have taken her own body back by now. Tina, I want to try something on you.-.

Your sister nods. You spit out a small stream of red goo from your mouth, keeping it linked to yourself like you did when you infiltrated Jeremy's house. You guide the viscous form up Tina's leg, then slip it inside her, entering through her pussy.

-Hey! What the... ooh, that tingles.- Tina shifts her legs, rubbing them together. You feel something—like a magnetic pull from somewhere deep inside her, probably her own goo-essence calling to you. But you resist the urge to merge with her, instead carefully moving upward, exploring. You crawl through what you assume is her urethra, pink flesh surrounding you on all sides. Reaching a junction, you cling to the walls and carefully push through, finding yourself in what you think is her hipbone.

-Okay, what are you doing exactly? I can feel you moving inside me...-.

-How does it feel? Does it hurt?-.

-Not quite. It's just... weird.- She shivers as you spread yourself around a delicate membrane, stretching your pseudopods until they reconnect on the other side.

-Let me know if you feel any pain.- You squeeze gently, and her face quickly shifts from confusion to alarm.

-Ouch!- Tina instinctively grabs her backside, and you immediately relax your hold. You crawl through what you now recognize as her anus and ooze out onto the floor. With your human eyes, you see yourself on the floor, and feel a slight pang of disgust. Gosh, you're so hideous outside a human body.

Tina rubs her butt while scooping you back up from the floor, handing your gooey form to... well, yourself. You reabsorb the red jelly into your Kim's skin, trying not to think too much about where you just came out from.

-Is that what she's doing to them? Hurting them from the inside?- Tina's voice rises in panic: -Is she doing this to Heather?-.

-Tina, calm down, I'm sure Heather is ok. Think about it: Charity wants her for something. Whatever it is, she can't afford to harm her.- Not so much, but you avoid adding this part to your explanation. Tina takes a shaky breath, her nerves slightly eased.

-But what about Lacy and Sally? And even her own body! Now I understand why she was that scared! She's torturing them!-.

-We'll save them. I swear. But first, we need to figure out what she wants. The Gatelys... she's after them for a reason.-.

-Well... t-they're rich, maybe she wants their money.-.

-Yet, Heather's family is rich too. And there are plenty of wealthier people in the city. No, it has to be something else—something to do with whatever they're involved in.- After some moments of silence, you take a deep breath.

-We need to update the others. Let's call for a meeting.-.

-What? But...- Tina hesitates, stumbling to find out the words, and you say it out for her.

-Yes, I know. It barely passed a day. I'll appear a weak leader. But too many things have happened, starting with Sonja and Megan: Charity is escalating, and everyone needs to know.-.

Tina chews her lip before nodding reluctantly: -Where do we meet?-.

-It's not like we have much choice, we're doing it here.- You reply: -After all, Charity already knows about us, there's no point hiding anymore.-.

You both start texting your sisters, spreading the word. At the same time, you spread through the house some more goo, just like you did the day before, checking for any signs of unwanted visitors. Stephanie eventually comes back downstairs, wearing some of your mom's clothes.

While she monitors the responses from the others, you and Tina move aside to discuss things further. Just as you do, your phone rings. It's Trish, and you get a sinking feeling as you pick up.

-Trish, what's happened?-. Tina watches as your face pales. You end the call, already knowing what her question will be.

-It's Cindy's mom, she's missing. Cindy is at Trish's now.-.

-Mrs. Hope? No! Why would she take her?- Tina's voice cracks. She knows as well as you that there must be Charity behind her disappearance.

-To hurt Cindy, maybe. But...- You pause, remembering something about Amanda Hope: -Amanda's an accountant. Now that I think about it... Cindy once mentioned she had worked for the Gatelys for a period. It fits.-.

-The Gatelys again. Everything seems to lead back to them.- Tina mutters darkly. Right then, there's a knock on the door. Your cousin Emily and your grandmother Caroline step inside.

-Kim, Tina, I wish we had better news.- The latter says after the initial hugs, her face grim. Emily follows, looking equally serious.

-Charity's already gotten to the police. I could only manage to get a pair of officers.- Emily explains, your heart skipping a beat: -I came to tell you earlier, but I ran into your friend, Tina... I got you wanted her out of the country, right?-.

-Nadira?- Tina asks, her voice strained: -Did you possess her?-.

-Only temporarily, to get her to the airport. She's safe now. Mom is dealing with her family now.-. Tina closes her eyes in relief, but your focus is on the police issue. Charity’s planning long-term, while you're stuck in the moment.

-There's something else.- Caroline says, her voice tight with guilt: -It's Tom, our body. I'm afraid he's run away.-.

-What?- Both you and Tina exclaim in shock. Caroline holds her own arm in sorrow, her face full of regret, while Emily diverts her eyes.

-This is on me. I should have been honest with you sooner. Last night, I knew he was at William's. I was there... possessing his family.-.

-Why haven't you...- Tina starts, but you stop her with a raised hand, letting Caroline finish.

-I thought that his aunt Abigail, being a police sergeant, might be useful. But he showed up just after I was finished with William's sisters; he was angry with him for some reason, and I managed to calm him down, but... but he saw me spreading into Will's mom Iris. I couldn't justify my presence there and what he saw, and so I had to tell him everything.-.

The news hits you like a punch to the gut. Tom knows. And he's known since yesterday. You gasp, your mind whirling with conflicting emotions. What does he think? Does he hate you? Fear you? Could he still love you? Tina's clearly overwhelmed by the same thoughts, but you can't afford to get distracted. Given the way Caroline's talking, things didn't end well.

-I thought I convinced him to trust us. I... I was quite insistent.- Caroline admits, her cheeks flushing.

-You had sex with him?- Tina blurts out, echoing your own thoughts.

Caroline clears her throat and removes her glasses, nervously wiping them.

-Yes, I did. When you called the meeting yesterday, I told him to stay with Will’s mom, but this afternoon she called me—he'd taken some money and Will's clothes and disappeared.-.

As the gravity of the situation sets in, Tina's voice wavers with panic: -You mean he's on the run? From, from us?-.

-I believe so, yes. I'm sorry. I should've told you sooner, I was just… I'm sorry.-.

You rub your eyes, feeling the chaos within you swirl—an urge to scream and cry, both emotions clawing at you, but you push them down. There's no space for a breakdown; they're all looking to you. You **** calm, wrapping your voice in optimism.

-It's okay. In a way, it might be better.-.

-What?- Tina stares at you, aghast: -How can you say that? Our brother is out there! With that psycho on the loose!-.

-Yes, but he knows it. Tom is not an idiot, and clearly, well, he can take care of himself.- You cast a quick glance at Caroline, making her tighten her lips: -We wanted him safe, and maybe this is his way of staying out of danger. If we don't know where he is, Charity can't get that information from us.-.

-But...- Tina trembles, her eyes wide and ****: -But he hates us now.-.

You pause, heart heavy with the weight of the truth.

-Yes, he... probably does.- You look away, feeling the sting of the words. Isn't this what you wanted sis?, a part of you would like to spit out, but it isn't the part you can let speak now: -Either way, we have to tell the others.-.

-You sure it's a good idea?- Emily interjects, crossing her arms, brow furrowed in doubt: -Everyone's already on edge.-.

-I vote for keeping all of them in the dark.- A familiar voice chimes in. Maylene, lounging on the couch, stands with a slithering grin. The room stiffens at her presence, everyone sharing a mutual distaste. Tina, wide-eyed, blurts: -You—when did you get in?-.

-Since before.- Maylene sidles up next to you, a shiver running down your spine. God, a viper's swipe would be less disgusting than her slimy pitch: -You know, I knocked, don't you remember?-.

-But we hadn't let you in!-.

-Uh? Really? Well, in any case...- She drapes an arm over your shoulders and grins, her touch sickeningly casual: -It's always easier to control people when they don't know all the facts. Right boss?-.

You keep your expression stone-cold, not acknowledging her touch as her hand casually gropes your tit, and you reply: -We don't know if Charity even knows about Tom. And until we're certain, we can't risk talking about him. Unless, of course, someone in this room decides to tell her.-.

-Then we're as safe as houses!- Maylene laughs, ignoring the threat in your tone.

-Speaking of.- Emily shifts uncomfortably, clearly wanting to move the conversation forward: -Maybe we should try telepathy to communicate. That way, Charity can't listen in.-.

"Can't she?" You think to yourself as you attempt to reach out telepathically. But only Emily seems to notice. You try again, focusing harder: "What if she can?".

This time, the others react—Tina, Maylene, and Caroline looking at you, concern creasing their brows. Your grandmom's face, in particular, seems quite concentrating, and after some seconds Tina's voice slips into your mind, tentative: "No, I think she's saying that we have no guarantees she can't eavesdrop us. Right, Kim?".

"Kim?" You then hear Caroline's voice: "What do you mean by that?".

"Hey girls! Why are we so silent? Trying telepathy?" Stephanie interjects, joining you at this precise moment.

You sigh.

-Here's another issue with telepathy. It works fine between two people, but gets messy with more. And if Heather or the others haven't contacted us through it, I'm guessing they have reason to believe it's not safe.-.

As you're speaking, the door suddenly swings open, making you flinch. Christine and Lucille, your possessed cronies, walk in, looking just as startled by your reaction.

-What? You told us to come, right?- Krissy observes. She also opens her palm, revealing a key that immediately dissolves in a red gump, seeping back into her skin.

-Ever heard of knocking?- Tina complains.

-This was my house too until yesterday, Tina.-.

-Calm down, both of you. Girls, did you bring some of the others?-. Lucy nods and tips open the jute bag she is holding. Pieces of red goo splat onto the floor like slimy, squirming frogs; since the house couldn't contain a hundred of you (and probably, by now, you're more than one hundred), you asked only Emily and a few more to come here with their bodies. As for the others, it's like some teleconference, only a bit more... viscid. Eugh.

-Well, uhm, thank you too for having come with short notice... again.- You realize you have no idea whom they correspond to; clearly, you still have to work a little on the meeting thing. In some minutes, more guests arrive, until your living room is full with people, and overall, goo, and it seems that the seats have been milled to perfection. Since Stephanie did most of the job, you suspect there's a reason she became Manager at 26.

You take notice of the last two girls who have arrived. One is a light blonde young woman with modest curves and an angelic face; the second is more athletic, with her brunette hair in a pixie cut, two stretchings on her lobes and a piercing on her nostril.

Bella and Elizabeth, or Liz for her friends. Such as, you; or rather, Tom. With Jeremy and William, they make the group he hangs out with during lectures; Maylene already told you, but it still feels weird having them here and knowing that, under those familiar visages and personas, there is someone else. You, overall.

They answer to your prude smile with a similar one; while for Tina, she just avoids their looks.

-So, uh, we can now begin...-.

As you explain the current situation, panic spreads among the group, and the room erupts into heated debates, with goos bloating into girls out of the sudden and, even worse, mental messages chaotically crowding the room. You raise your hands to calm the chaos.

-Calm down, I already thought about the next strategy.- You shake your hands to sedate the growing confusion: -I've already thought of the next steps. Tina and I have decided we need to stop aimlessly expanding and instead focus on key targets. Women in positions of power.-.

Maylene raises her hand and speaks without waiting for permission: -So, flushing goo down toilets was a waste? I've also been planting pieces all over the city, you know, I was going to visit a primary school tomorrow. Did I do good? Kim? Tina?-.

Your sister has turned pale at her casual mention, and you quickly intervene, keeping your voice steady: -There is no need to do so. Schools are... they are not our target, we think that-

-If it's a "we", why it's only you talking?- This time it was Krissy, eyes sharp on Tina.

-Hey, cut it out.- Bella snaps, annoyed: -If she wants to speak, she speaks. And by the way, children? Really?- She turns to Maylene, who's acting all mortified.

-Oh my, I meant the teachers. My most sincere apologies if-

-I think- Tina interrupts her, though with a trembling voice: -that if we have to do it, we need to be smarter than wasting our time strolling around the city toilets, or satisfying someone's schoolgirls' kink.-.

Liz scoffs, quickly excusing herself; Maylene instead clicks her tongue: -Like sister, like sister, mh?-.

You step in, bringing the focus back to the plan: -Let's stay on topic. The police are compromised, so we need to explore other avenues...-.

---

Sunday morning

Jacket; purse; shoes; a final flick of your hair, and you're ready to go. As you open the door, however, your mother's voice stops you.

-Aww, look at my girl! Off on your little mission?-.

You turn around. As usual, Hermione Sutherland is sprawled on the couch, a faint whiff of **** hanging in the air; unlike the past, however, instead of wearing at least a bikini or some lingerie, today she's completely naked, her skin gleaming under the light. One arm is circling her underboobs, while the other hand is covering, or more probably stroking, her pussy.

-Yes Mom. It won't take much, I already know what to do.-.

-Mmm, you're so clever! Your father always says so!- She giggles. You sigh; you love her, you really do, but sometimes, you wish you could pretend she's just your stepmom: after all, she's only 16 years older than you, and with a husband way older than her, as if she was just a trophy bimbo your dad married at a certain point of his life. But instead she's by all the effects your mom, and not even pumping your goo down her throat when you came back home yesterday has apparently influenced her behavior. If not, well, for the clothes part.

-Thanks Mom.- You **** a smile, then add: -Can you prepare something to eat for when I get back?-.

She nods absentmindedly, and you finally step out into the fresh air.

-Tell Regina I say hello!- You hear a moment before closing the door. You shake your head in resignation, then drive your Porche to the headquarters of Roboris Vitae, one of the two pharmaceutical companies based in the city. The man at the reception welcomes you with a practiced smile.

-Hel-oh, Miss Sutherland! Do you have an appointment with Ms. Anderson?-.

-No, I don't, but I'd like to talk to her about something important.-.

-I see, let me check then.- He furiously taps at his PC, while you tighten your purse strap. Behind you, there is a constant coming and going of people that makes you slightly nervous. Not that they have any reason to find Bella Sutherland's presence here strange; however, it is not simply the anxiety of running into Charity that agitates you, but the irrational fear that someone will see through you. Bella... you didn't know her well that much, and now you're her, and you feel like her.

-Luckily Ms. Anderson is free right now. Should I notify her of your presence?-.

-Yes, thank you... Devon.- You read the name on his tag. You then move to the elevator, pressing for the top floor. The company's promotional images follow one another on a small screen on the wall, while a warm female voice accompanies them, marking the wait. Finally, the doors open on a small lobby, with only a wall of glass separating Regina's office.

The businesswoman is currently sitting at her desk, signing some papers, but she gets up when she sees you approaching. Your eyes are momentarily captured by the two orbs on her chest that threaten to tear apart her v-neck t-shirt, before you move them up to her bronze-stained curls to her face.

-Bella! What a pleasant surprise! How are things going? Have you visited your father recently?-.

-Hi Auntie. No, not recently, but Mom says hello.-.

Regina's smile falters for just a second, a flicker of something uncomfortable crossing her otherwise polished expression. For a woman like her, who has fought her way to her position, someone like Hermione isn't exactly a role model.

-Well, in any case, I'm confident my lawyers will soon resolve that... misunderstanding that keeps him separated from all of us.- That's her delicate way of referring to your father's tax evasion conviction, which landed him in prison a year ago, and shattered all your convictions about your family. But you're not here to dredge up family matters.

-Auntie, actually, I need your help with something else.- You say, digging through your purse.

-Of course, Bella. You know that you and your father are family to me.- Regina replies warmly, though you notice her eyes lingering curiously on your actions. When you finally produce a Petri dish, containing some ominous red substance, her interest piques visibly.

-Here, take a look.- You lend it to her. Regina hesitates, taking the dish from your hand with a puzzled look.

-What's this?-.

-It's... well, it's easier if you open it.-. She does so, but still, she seems wary about it.

-Erm, you should, uh, smell it. It's the scent that makes it special.-.

Once again, she follows your instructions, bringing it next to her nose. Suddenly, the slime launches from the dish and into her nostrils, making her jerk her head back violently. She gasps, nearly dropping the container in shock as her body convulsed. You stand calmly, watching her squirm and whimper, until the struggle ceases. Her body goes still, head lowering back to its normal position.

-Hello Auntie. Welcome to the team.-.

---

You knock on the office door, waiting for the soft response from inside before stepping into the sterile, well-organized room.

-Dr. Truman, good morning.- The woman with dirty blonde hair standing in front of you greets you. She then narrows her eyes: -I didn't remember you were on duty today.-.

-Good morning, Dr. Monroe. No, I'm not. I came in because I found something concerning in a patient's room the other day.-. Selina straightens, instantly serious. She's the kind of woman who's been through too much in her time as Hospital Director to take any matter lightly, especially when it comes from one of her top doctors. You present her with something she cannot quite identify.

-I discovered this under the bed of one of the girls admitted yesterday, and I took a sample. I already checked, it's not a contaminant.-.

Selina holds the resealable bag up for a closer look, looking at the substance contained in it.

-It looks like blood, but it's too thick. It seems a gel of some sort.- She constates, her face hardened: -Did you run it through the lab?-.

-I'm coming from there right now. Inconclusive.- You state: -But it contains fragments of the girl's DNA. I think it comes from her body, but her wounds are all clean. It must have exited from her butthole, or her vagina.-.

-A body fluid?- Dr. Monroe furrows, placing the plastic bag on the desk behind herself: -Dr. Truman; Beverly; you know there are procedures to follow in these cases. You should have called me to the lab instead of bringing it to me.-.

-I know.- You say: -But there's another thing you need to know. That jelly, it reacted to the tests. It moved. I think... I think it's alive.-.

-Alive?- She repeats, incredulous, before shaking her head. -Beverly, if this is some kind of joke...-.

-No, Selina, I'm afraid it's not. Look by yourself, it opened the bag.- You point at her desk; she follows your eyes, and notices in astonishment that the goo has slipped out of the sachet and is crawling toward her hand.

-It entered me, and now wants you too.-.

-What the f- She doesn't get to end the sentence as you lung forward and slam her head on the desk. The goo surges on her horrified face, immediately plunging inside her mouth. Her muffled scream is swallowed as the red slime floods inside her.

-Apologies, Dr. Monroe.- You mutter: -But this is our hospital now.-.

---

You catch your reflection in the pristine mirror, studying your appearance one last time. Everything is perfect, from your expertly curled blonde locks to the immaculate white sundress clinging tastefully to your curves, and pushing your two mammal globes into a teasing yet proper sight. Not a strand of hair out of place, not a smudge of makeup visible. The eyeliner accentuates your light blue eyes, your rose-red lipstick gives a soft, seductive touch to your lips, and the pearl necklace adds an air of sophisticated authority.

As Dean of the city university, anything less than perfection is unacceptable. If only your stepdaughter felt the same way...

Satisfied with yourself, you step confidently to your car, your chest already swelling with pride. Being one of Miss Hope's offspring, the very one who managed to slip into Mrs. Agatha Bernstein's office and body, it's your precise purpose to use your new authority to support your mother's cause; and, luckily, when Miss Harris mentioned influential targets, you remembered of the appointment the old Agatha fixed up for this morning, which quite fitted the case.

You proudly cross the city hall's foyer, the sound of your heels clicking against the marble floor. The glances that follow you, a mixture of admiration and intrigue, are nothing you aren't used to. It's part of your presence, after all. Power. Beauty.

The person who welcomes you is a pretty girl in her mid-twenties, a candid smile on her face. You can constate the efficiency of her dental hygiene.

-Oh, Madame Rector! I'm going to inform my mother that you've arrived.-.

-Thank you, dear. I miss seeing you in class, you were one of my brightest students.-.

Rhiannon blushes deeply, glowing at the compliment, before hurrying to knock on her sister's office door. A polite, respectful, diligent girl; why can't your Philippa be like her? Moments later, Rhiannon opens the door and waves you in, wishing you goodbye before she disappears down the hall. You step into the Mayor's office, where Alexandra J. Morgan is already waiting for you with an eager smile.

-Agatha! It's so nice to see you!-.

-Likewise, Alexandra.-.

She walks up to greet you, and after the usual exchange of polite cheek kisses, you catch her off guard by pressing your lips firmly against hers. Alexandra stiffens in shock as a thin stream of red goo slips from your mouth and flows down her throat. The mayor shudders violently as the foreign substance invades her, her body losing strength. You catch her just as she collapses forward, her head landing between your breasts as you gently cradle her.

-Ssh, it's alright, it's alright, my sweet daughter. Everything will soon be clear.-.

---

-May I?-.

The black-haired woman raises her head in surprise, flashing a warm smile at the figure standing in her office doorway.

-Jess! Of course! What brings you here?- Valerie Haas exclaims, her energy as infectious as ever. She stands up, all enthusiasm, her mind still racing at a hundred miles an hour.

You weren't exactly looking forward to taking your mother's older form again, but in order to approach her best friend, it seemed like the best choice. Moreover, you couldn't just bark orders around to your sisters without doing anything.

-Hope I'm not a bother.- You say with a polite smile. Valerie is about to reassure you, but her office phone rings suddenly, cutting her off mid-sentence.

-Haas here. Aha. Come again? No, I need that story wrapped by tomorrow! I don't care who called dibs on... yeah, screw the first page! Tomorrow I said! Chop chop boy!- Valerie snaps at the phone before slamming it down, letting out a frustrated sigh. Then, she looks back at you, her expression softening instantly.

-Sorry about that, Jess. No, you’re not interrupting at all. I swear, this place would fall apart without me.-.

-Well, that's the price of being editor-in-chief of the City Daily.- You giggle.

-Please, I only run the print section.- She groans, collapsing back into her chair, slapping her forehead with her hand: -Urgh, don't remind me of the broadcasting channel. Honestly, the new weather girl has more tits than brains! But anyway, what can I do for you?-.

You blink, momentarily thrown off by Valerie's usual whirlwind of energy. Talking to her often feels like trying to keep up with a train speeding out of control. She's a dear friend to your mom, but her pace can be dizzying.

-Yes, uhm, about that, could we, could we have some more privacy?- You ask, glancing around the bustling office just outside the glass walls. Valerie nods and quickly closes the shutters, sealing the room from the chaotic noise of journalists and clattering typewriters. She sits back down, gesturing for you to do the same.

-So, what's going on, Jess? You looked pretty serious just now.-.

You pause, adopting a tone of concern. -I'm really sorry to bother you while you're working, but I can't wait anymore. It's about Kim, actually. She...-.

-Oh my. Kim? Is she in trouble?-.

"You have no idea, Val." You think, but instead, you shake your head.

-No, not in trouble exactly. She's been insistent lately about wanting to work at Gately's, the home management company.-. Valerie frowns, her brow furrowing in thought. You can see her searching through her memory, likely sifting through articles she's written or read about the company.

-Yes, I know them.- She says carefully.

-But I've heard rumors...- You continue, shifting in your seat to appear uncomfortable. -I don't know, Val, are they... safe? Are they good people?-.

Valerie closes her glasses, placing them on the desk before her.

-Jess, I've heard some gossip about them, sure. But when I double-checked, there wasn't anything concrete. They're no shadier than any other corporation out there in this dog-eat-dog world.-.

You sense she's not telling you everything, but for now, you pretend to relax, offering her a grateful smile.

-Thanks, Val. I just needed to be sure. And sorry again for having appeared like this.-.

-Please, don't even mention it, Jess.- Valerie waves you off with a smile as she stands. You both rise from your seats, and just as you turn to leave, you pause, pretending to have just remembered something.

Before she can react, you reach forward, grab her head, and clamp your other hand over her mouth. Valerie's eyes widen in shock, her muffled protest cut short as the familiar red goo oozes from your palm, invading her mind in a single swift motion. She thrashes for a moment, her mind overwhelmed by the foreign intrusion, but soon her body slackens, the fight draining from her.

Now, you'll finally know what she's hiding about Darius and Geneviève Gately.