I'm Watching Over You

Lauren Peterson

Lauren strolled alongside the angel, whose large wings radiated light, casting a once-darkness that was now filled with light. The woods, which had once felt foreboding and dark, were now serene and peaceful, bathed in the light of both the angel and the moon.

"Something troubling you, child?" the angel asked.

"What are you anyway?" Lauren asked, finally breaking her silence. "Why are you called Nineteen?"

The angel stopped for only the briefest moment before resuming her floating stroll. "I don't believe I gave you my name."

"One of those ghost freaks called you that," Lauren shivered, recalling the attack.

"I see," Nineteen nodded. "Azure gave me that number, based on the order of my creation."

Lauren halted in place, suspicious. "She made you? Are you one of her flunkies?"

Nineteen gently shook her head. "No, I am far from it. The inhabitants of the forest and I are here because Azure rejected us. I was banished here after leading a rebellion against her."

"Rebellion?" Lauren repeated.

Nineteen closed her eyes, her mind casting back into memories. "Yes, over a century ago. It broke my heart to see how she would torment innocent people in the mortal world. Someone had to step in and do the right thing."

"Torment," Lauren said softly. "Is that why you reached out to me?"

"Yes. I couldn't bear to watch the cruelty any longer." She placed a hand on Laurens's shoulder. "I know how Azure has taken everything from you. I want to help you get them back."

Lauren gulped, heart pounding. "So you can save Katelyn?" Upon asking, she did a double-take, realizing she could say her sister's name, rather than be **** to say Lauren-Two.

Nineteen smiled in amusement. "Indeed. I'm going to help you save her."

Lauren brought her hands together, her joy overflowing. "Perfect. Can you remove her transformation?"

Nineteen shook her head, sadly. "I desperately wish that I could, but it is impossible."

Laurens' smile faltered. "What are you talking about. Of course it is. You already got rid of mine. Just do that again."

"I cannot leave the forest. My siblings and I are all sealed here by Azure's magic."

"Then I’ll bring her here," Lauren offered.

Nineteen managed to suppress a chuckle. "How? Do you intend to wrestle and drag her here yourself? Even if you could, Azure would surely notice."

Lauren could feel her temper rising. "Well, I’ll do it when she’s asleep!"

"That's not the issue. It doesn't matter if you brought Katelyn to me. It still won't help."

Lauren stomped her foot, pissed. "Why the fuck not?!"

"Not only has her body changed, but her mind has also been radically rewritten to embody a character," she explained. "Mental curses are much harder to lift—especially ones cast by Azure."

"Fucking Azure again! So you're saying you're weaker than her then?!" Lauren hollered.

The angel's tranquil face cracked at the question. She managed to keep most of her expression intact, but a chilling intensity glimmered in her eyes, resembling the predatory gaze of a cruel, rabid monster poised to rip its victim to shreds.

A split second later, her face returned to normal, so quick that Lauren didn't notice.

"Our powers are somewhat comparable," she stated. "However, that's not the real issue. I could try to lift the mental curse, but it would be risky. There is a possibility of brain damage," she explained, improvising.

"How much of a possibility?" Lauren demanded to know. "Is it a guaranteed risk?"

"I don't know. I've never actually done it," Nineteen replied, looking tranquilly off into the distance. "But do you really want to take that chance?"

Lauren let out a scream of frustration. "So in other words, you’re totally useless! Why the fuck did you bother calling me?"

The angel raised her hands reassuringly. "No, we can still save her, and I want to help. We just have to do so within Azure's rules. Don’t you remember? She told you how to save her."

Lauren took several long moments to let her temper die down. Finally, she explained what she recalled. "Azure said you can save her if at least four contestants get eliminated."

Nineteen nodded. "Then you know what to do." She leaned down to the girl. "Surely you've already considered it."

Lauren laughed. "Of course I have. Ji-Woo is already a lost cause, so that's three down already. She looked away. "I just need one more."

"One more," Nineteen repeated, sadly. "Tell me, my child, is that why you haven’t tried to gain any points? So you'll be the fourth?"

Lauren said nothing, still looking away.

Nineteen brought her hand to where her heart should be. "You don’t deserve such a fate. And regardless, that wouldn’t do anything to save her."

Lauren looked up at her. "What do you mean?"

"Don’t forget, it’s not enough to get four eliminations. You also have to win the wish at the end of the show," Nineteen reminded her. "Meaning, you also have to get the most VP."

Lauren considered this for a moment. "Some of the others are trying to rescue her," she reminisced. "They might do it if they win."

The winged woman let out a sigh of disappointment. "Surely you don’t believe that. You know none of her so-called rescuers can be trusted." She began listing each of them on her fingers. "Sophia is the one who eliminated her. Elena is Levi’s closest friend. And we all know that Mrs. Wolf has no chance of winning."

"I have no chance of winning," Lauren retorted. "Azure and Levi hate me."

"The odds are stacked against you," Nineteen admitted. "But this show is ultimately a popularity contest, something you've excelled at your entire life. Once you start putting in effort, I know you will succeed."

"It doesn't matter what I do," Lauren groaned. "Azure won't let me win."

Nineteen closed her eyes. "I doubt the masters that Azure works for would let her make it impossible to win, though she is certainly biased."

"So, it’s hopeless then?"

"No," Nineteen declared, opening her eyes. "I know Azure better than anyone in existence. I know her pressure points and how to circumvent her plans. You can use my knowledge to tip the scales back in your favor."

"You do?" Lauren responded, a hint of hope in her voice.

"Yes. Together, we can turn both Azure and Levi into our pawns. And when you finally win, we can both bring justice to the people who wronged us."

A weak smile formed on Laurens' lips.

Sophia Maoulin

Sophia fidgeted in her bed, her sleep troubled and uneasy. Her feline ears twitched in response to a nightmare, the memories of Azure pulling her soul out replaying on loop. At some point, she had tossed away her pillow amidst her restless slumber, her head resting upon the mattress itself.

Outside, the nighttime clouds parted, allowing a ray of moonlight to illuminate the sleeping girl. Moments later, a figure emerged from the light. Above her, silent and still as a statue, stood Alison, gazing down at the sleeping catgirl. Her expression was as unreadable as always.

She briefly looked over to Sophia's roommate, Nora Wolf, to confirm she was also asleep. She then brought her attention back to Sophia.

For nearly an hour, with an otherworldly patience, the maid stood quietly, her eyes fixated on the slumbering figure beneath her. She leaned in closer, straining to catch every murmured word that escaped Sophia’s lips. However, not a single coherent word was heard.

Eventually, Sophia's restless sleep subsided, and she drifted into a peaceful, quiet slumber. If Alison felt any disappointment at this, it did not show up on her face.

Instead, the maid gently leaned forward, her movements soft and deliberate. She began to run her fingers through Sophia's hair, the silky strands slipping through her fingertips like water. With each stroke, she was careful to keep her touch light and soothing, ensuring not to disturb the slumber of the girl before her.

She considered how easy it would be to take a single hair. It was all she needed to repeat what she had done with Lauren. Yet, she understood the difference between correcting a blatant violation and satisfying a simple suspicion. Yet... if she was right... but on the other hand... if she was wrong...

A large cloud glided across the night sky, obscuring the glowing moon. The silver light that filled the room faded. Alison was gone.

Not a single hair had been removed.

Lauren Peterson

"Why? Why is Azure so biased against me?" Lauren asked, sitting on a log next to Nineteen. "What did my sister and I do to deserve this?"

"Schadenfreude," Nineteen replied. "You and your sister are envied by those who watch this show. Rich, successful, and beautiful, they take pleasure in seeing people like you brought down to their level."

Lauren scoffed in disgust. "That’s the reason?"

"Of course. You’ve seen it all your life, haven’t you?" Nineteen patted Laurens' shoulder sympathetically. "You’ve seen how those around you either try to leech off your success or resent you out of jealousy."

"Yeah, you’re right," Lauren nodded. "Just because they're failures at life doesn't mean they should make it my problem."

"Quite so," Nineteen agreed. She looked up at the sky. "It is starting to get late, dear," she added, trying to get the conversation back on track.

"Right, okay." Lauren got to her feet. "So, I need to win and get two more people eliminated.

The teenager began to pace. "So, I need to decide who to target. I don't need to do anything about Ji-Woo; she's self-destructing fine on her own. As for the second, I’d like to take out that bitch Sophia, but she has too many people protecting her."

"Fair point, we saw how they changed the rules when she should have been eliminated," Nineteen agreed. "Though don’t forget, she’s the only one who will automatically lose if she finishes last in a challenge. I doubt even Azure could save her twice."

"Hmph, fine, maybe," Lauren shrugged. "Anyway, if we can't get her, then maybe Tomoko. She's a bimbo morron and would be easy to manipulate." Lauren considered it for a moment before biting her lip. "On the other hand, she’s such a whore that she’d probably suck off Levi to undo anything I throw at her."

Nineteen said nothing, instead leaning back on the log to watch Lauren work.

"Olivia's possible, since she's fucked herself over so much," Lauren concluded. "She'll either refuse to sleep with Levi, or she'll get her nasty gorilla arms back, and he won't want to touch her."

Lauren passed faster, on a roll. "Elena’s too deep with Levi, so she’s probably untouchable. As for Mrs. Wolf, she’s a hag, but that pervert Levi might have a GILF kink."

"So, have you decided where to focus?" Nineteen asked.

Lauren thought about it for a long time. "I’ll play it by ear. Find when they show weakness and hit them then."

Nineteen looked impressed. "You’re quite good at this."

Lauren crossed her arms smugly. "Of course I am, why do you think I rule my school? Finding the weak links is the first thing I learned."

"Of course, that's not the only thing you need to do," Nineteen reminded her.

"Yes, I know. I have to win." She sat back down. "If it were just about seducing Levi, it would be easy. But we have Azure's bullshit rules." She looked over at Nineteen. "You said you can help me?"

"Yes. We’ll have to be subtle, of course, so Azure doesn’t suspect, but I want to accompany you and offer my aid."

"Accompany me?" Lauren laughed. "I think she’d notice an angel following me around."

Nineteen shook her head. "You misunderstand. My body will not be with you." She sat up, wrapping her wings around herself, looking down at Lauren with her warm smile. "I want to join your soul."

Lauren shivered slightly. "What?"

Nineteen took Laurens' hand. "I want to share part of my soul with yours. It will allow us to speak freely, while also offering a fraction of my power."

"Power? You mean, I'll be able to do magic?" Lauren asked, confused.

"You won't, but I will," Nineteen clarified. "You don't know how to wield spells, but I do. If you give me control, I can use a fraction of my magic."

"Souls? Control?" Laurens' eyes widened, and she snatched her hand back. "Wait, you want to possess me."

"No, no! Of course not," Nineteen reassured her, shocked at the very suggestion. Possession is forcibly taking control of another's body. Not only would I never do it, but Azure would immediately sense the struggle."

Nineteen placed her hands together, looking as though she were praying. "I merely want to give you the option. To allow you to hand off the tasks you don't want to do yourself." She added, "You'll be the dominant soul, and can regain control any time you want.

"I don't know," Lauren said cautiously.

Nineteen sighed. "Lauren... your sister needs you. I'm sorry to be blunt, but you have no chance of saving her on your own."

"Katelyn," Lauren whispered.

"Yes, you need me. Unless you'd rather abandon her to an eternity of suffering."

"What? No."

"Then, please, let me help you," Nineteen begged. "Make this pact with me, at least until the show is over. Let me be your ally. I'm the only one here who can be."

Lauren stayed silent, still eying her with a look of suspicion. "Why are you helping me?" Lauren asked, finally. "It can't just be because you feel sorry for me."

Nineteen closed her eyes for a moment. "I admit, it’s not just you. I also loathe Azure. I see a bit of myself in you, and the pain that witch has caused you reminds me of what she did to me. Foiling her plans is all that I want."

"Payback, huh?" Lauren whispered. "Fair enough."

The teenager took a long breath. "Fine, I agree to your pact."

The angel smiled and began to radiate an intense brightness; the air around her shimmered with an otherworldly aura. From within her glowing figure, a small orb of light detached itself, pulsing gently like a heartbeat. It glided gracefully through the air, the orb floating toward Lauren. Before she could react, it gently entered her, enveloping her in a wave of warmth.

"What the hell?" Lauren cried, looking at herself as the glow subsided.

"Do not be afraid, my child," a voice within Lauren reassured her.

"You are safe. It worked," the angel said.

"Wait, so... you're in me then?" Lauren asked.

"Yes, a part of my soul..." the voice began.

"...resides in you," the angel finished.

"I can see everything you see..."

"...and hear everything you can hear."

"Holy shit," Lauren whispered. "So, now what?"

"Now, you return to the castle," Nineteen said aloud.

"If you do not hurry, Azure will know you were gone," the silent voice added.

"R-right," Lauren nodded. "I... uh... don't know how to get back."

"Don't worry, will teleport you to the forest edge," the Nineteen promised. "I may not be able to leave on my own, but I can assist others in doing so."

"Oh, uh, thanks," Lauren nodded. "Okay, send me back, then."

Nineteen held up a hand. "Sorry, but one more thing. I'm afraid I'll need to reapply your transformation. Otherwise, Azure will notice."

"Damn it," Lauren groaned. "Fine, whatever."

Nineteen waved her hand gracefully, and a swirl of magic enveloped Lauren. In an instant, her sun-kissed blonde hair transformed into jet-black pigtails as her skin took on a pale hue. With another flick of her wrist, her favorite outfit seamlessly morphed into an eye-catching goth ensemble, complete with lace and leather. Her hips widened as her ass inflated, her new outfit graciously hugging her curves.

As the changes stopped, Lauren looked down at herself in disgust, especially hating her skirt, which she lifted to examine. "Fuck," she snapped.

"I'm sorry, but it is necessary for now," Nineteen apologized.

"I know," Lauren replied. "I'll pretend to go along with Azure's bullshit for now. I'll even act like I'm into Levi. And when they least expect it, we'll take them down together."

"That’s the spirit," Nineteen beamed. She then waved her hand, and Lauren disappeared, sent to the forest entrance. "I'll be with you the whole way."

Deep in the Woods

The trio of ghosts glided silently through the woods, their nerves still on edge. It had been an entire hour since Nineteen had scared them away from Lauren, and they were still upset about it.

"What's her deal?" the horned ghost asked. "We just wanted to have a bit of fun, and she had to ruin it."

"That light really hurt," the fairy complained. "I mean, she could have just asked if she wanted the human bitch so much."

"Who knows why Nineteen does anything?" the leader of the trio sneered. "I mean, did you see the getup she was in?"

"Absolutely ridiculous," the fairy laughed.

"Sorry, you think so," the voice of Nineteen said, causing all three ghosts to freeze in fear. "I worked so hard on it."

The three ghosts turned to see the angel walk out of the woods, her expressions unreadable.

"Nineteen?" the leader said fearfully. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean..."

"Don't be alarmed," Nineteen assured her. "I actually wanted to thank you three."

The ghosts blinked in surprise. "Thank us?" the horned one asked.

"Yes, I'd been waiting for the right moment to rescue her," Nineteen explained, smiling. "You and your tenacle friend did marvelously."

The ghosts sighed in relief. However, that reference died moments later. "At least I would have thanked you if there wasn't one tiny issue," she continued, smile disappearing as her eyes turned red. "One, very, very annoying issue."

"What... what do you mean?" the fairy stammered.

Nineteen spoke through gritted teeth. "My name. You said my name when you fled, and now the brat knows it."

"W-wait, hold on," the tallest ghost shivered.

"I would have preferred you hadn't said that," Nineteen said slowly. “I had a different story in mind. You ruined that."

The horned ghost pointed to their leader. "Hold on! It was eight-fifty-nine who said it."

The fairy nodded, terrified. "That's right. It was her fault. Not ours!"

Nineteen took another step, rage filling her by the moment, "Now there is a potential link back to the real me."

"Wait...please..." Eight-fifty-nine begged. "Just take a moment and..."

The woods behind Nineteen burst into flames. "YOU INTRODUCED A FLAW! I DON'T DO FLAWS!"

Five minutes later, the forest was silent.

Lauren Peterson

Lauren looked up the stone steps of the castle, not looking forward to climbing them again.

"I know you're tired, my dear, but you need to move," the voice told her sympathetically.

"I know," Lauren said. "You think I need to run?"

"No, you still have enough time to walk," the voice responded. "You should have enough time to get back and take a nap before the opening ceremony."

"Alright, sounds good," Lauren sighed, taking the first step. "Thanks," she added.

"Think nothing of it. You and I are in this together."

Bonus Image