#Horror/Dystopia

[heykoonsy]

Word Count: 4.4k+ 

Pairing: OC x Jake, OC x Danny

Summary: Charlotte’s stay at the Somerset Sapiens Farm was short-lived, her intelligence quickly astounding the owner; Henry Somerset himself. Hoping to become a client, Charlotte is gifted to an eccentric vampire known for supplying the wealthy elite with high quality humans for their gatherings. Charlotte, however, intends to use this vampire’s power and connections another way.

Content Warnings: 18+ for mature themes

Chapter 1: The Past

Charlotte watched as a few guards made their way down the corridor opposite her cell. With them, a meek woman was being dragged by the arms. She grit her teeth at how roughly they handled her, taking little care of the incision at her throat and simply letting her head fall forward. She watched, noticing that the anesthetic used made the woman’s movements slow and groggy. As the guards tossed her onto the bed, they scoffed at her, remarking on her smell. When they came out of the cell, Charlotte looked away in disgust at their actions. 

The woman was carted away a few days ago, all because F6284 was too loud–she screeched, clicked and hummed throughout the night. It distressed her cell mate and neighbors, in fact, the entire wing echoed with the sounds of her cries. Charlotte didn’t mind much, she wasn’t rattled by an innocent woman’s voice. 

But the guards were. They had been complaining about her noise for weeks and seeing that a silent human still bleeds–the owner opted for a little change.

Charlotte had heard utterings from the other staff operating within the halls of the Sanctuary–or as she’d come to learn a few months ago–the Somerset Sapiens Farm. Several guards had been speaking of F6284’s “operation”, relieved that another “bleeder” had been “clipped”. The medical staff that drew blood and cared for injuries in the infirmary were also talking about it. They seemed a lot more sympathetic, worried about F6284’s condition after “surgery” and hoping to keep her comfortable. 

It was nothing more than pointless pity. The operation was still carried out. 

“F6423 and F6298 are already in the infirmary, so we still need F6200,” a guard’s voice called from outside her cell.

Charlotte stayed where she was, ignoring her ID number and keeping her eyes to the concrete floors of her cell. She heard the lock turn and her cell door open. 

“Drawing time,” the guard said, more to her than his partner.

“You’ve got to stop talking to these things,” the other guard said, crossing his arms. “Half of them can’t even walk, let alone speak.”

The guard pulled on Charlotte’s arm, raising her from her seated position on her cot. “You talk to Buttercup, she can’t speak.”

“Five weeks of obedience training says she can speak.”

“You paid someone to teach her tricks?”

“Can we just leave Buttercup out of this?” The other guard said exasperatedly. 

The guard shrugged his shoulders and led Charlotte out of her cell, keeping a hand on her upper arm to ensure she wouldn’t go anywhere. 

Charlotte was taken down a flight of stairs and to the infirmary. She had been there often–in fact, she stayed there for nearly two weeks when she first arrived. She was poked and prodded, each vampire she met sticking her with needles and syringes. She was strapped to the bed for most of it, going in and out of consciousness. At the time she didn’t know what she was being given, but after hearing the terms used for months now, she picked up on a lot. 

“We’ll start with fluids,” someone said from the space above her.

“Have you seen this?” Another pulled up her shirt, exposing her hunger-wracked body.

There was a pause. “Where did we find her again?”

“She found us.”

“Fluids first, then we’ll get her something to eat.”

Charlotte shook herself from the memory, watching as they passed rows of doors along a narrow hallway. Finally, they stopped and a door was buzzed open for them. One guard paused to open the door, and the other led her in. Charlotte recognized the words on the door as she was pushed past them: INFIRMARY.

“There you go,” the guard said as he sat her down on an empty chair in the infirmary. 

Charlotte watched as they bound her arms and legs to the chair. Her eyes skirted over the rest of the room, taking a quick count of everyone she saw. There was a small row of chairs, hers being the last in the line. Four other women were strapped in, all tied up and being bled. She recognized them as the same women she was always in here with during drawings. They were all members of the same “cluster”.

“Thanks Reggie,” a voice called from behind the chairs. 

The guard nodded and stood outside the door waiting to escort them back.

Charlotte watched as someone in a long white coat pushed towards her on a chair with wheels. She stopped in front of her, hands immediately going to Charlotte’s arm with practiced precision. She watched absentmindedly as the syringe went into her skin, feeling the small sting for a moment. After the blood bag was all set up, White Coat stood and made her way to the other side of the room to work at a desk. 

Charlotte looked over at the other women again, watching as their attention was drawn elsewhere. One was looking at White Coat, another was looking at the blood bag. The last two were tapping their feet, the light sounds making them excited. Charlotte watched as White Coat looked over at them–clearly annoyed by the noise. 

“Cool it,” she said harshly. 

Her tone startled the women, making them stop. When she turned away, their eyes moved to the floor. It was a few minutes before they started tapping their feet again, happily clicking at each other. White Coat slammed her hand on the table to quiet them. 

And yet again, it did not settle them for long.

This was only headed one way–and it happened last time too. Charlotte prepared herself, watching as White Coat rose from the desk and picked up something. Charlotte watched as she raised her arm quickly, but was stopped when she heard Charlotte’s blood bag land on the floor. White Coat looked over at her, dropping the arm that held her weapon. 

“Again?” She asked angrily.

Charlotte watched as she stomped towards her. White Coat stopped before Charlotte and raised her weapon again. She felt a sudden jolt which sent her body lurching forward. Charlotte gasped, shutting her eyes and gritting her teeth so she wouldn’t call out. 

“Bet you won’t do that again,” White Coat said as she hurried to hook Charlotte back up. 

Charlotte breathed heavily through her nose as she watched White Coat walk back to her desk. Before she could stop herself, Charlotte dipped her head low, grabbing the tube between her teeth and ripped the needle from her arm once more. The bag clattered to the floor, stopping White Coat in her tracks. 

Charlotte glared at her, watching as White Coat looked back, mouth agape. Then, she took a few steps back, her hand going to her mouth in shock. 

“Reggie,” she yelled as she buzzed the guard in. 

Reggie escorted her out of the room, giving a glance over to Charlotte as she watched them leave. 

Charlotte strained her ears, but all she could make out was, “She did it on purpose, she understood.”

Charlotte knew that she made a mistake as soon as she saw White Coat stop dead in the Infirmary. She had been lying low for months, keeping her speech and her ability to read and write to herself. She realized very early that they would never speak to her, just of and around her. It had never even occurred to them that she may be able to reply. 

After she joined the general population, she understood why they might believe that. They separated the humans by sex, one wing for men and one for women. She couldn’t speak for the male wing, but as for the female one, it was a sharp contrast to what she was expecting. 

For whatever reason, she assumed that the humans in the Sanctuary would be like her. She figured there would be mothers and fathers and children. But it wasn’t like she hoped. The humans here were condemned to their cells, taken out for drawings, “showers”, meals and “yard time”. The ones that couldn’t walk were dragged. The ones that couldn’t speak were ignored. The ones that did speak usually only repeated phrases they’d heard or mimic sounds like the buzzing of a door. 

It made her sick to her stomach. 

And, in realizing this, she came to terms about her father’s decision to keep them all away from this place. This is what life was like for their kind now: one hundred years of breeding made humans no more than cattle to their captors. 

Reggie held onto Charlotte tighter than he usually did, his grip cutting off circulation to the rest of her arm. She kept her gaze low as she looked at him. His chest was rising and falling fast, knowledge of Charlotte’s new-found intelligence clearly making him anxious. He stopped her in front of a large door, which looked nothing like the rest of the building. 

Reggie knocked lightly on the door, the sound alerting whoever was inside. Charlotte heard footsteps, and finally, the door swung open. 

A tall man met Reggie’s gaze, and he peered down at Charlotte. He gestured to come in with his hand, but Charlotte waited for Reggie to pull her along. Reggie sat her down in a waiting chair, and Charlotte noticed that there was a lack of restraints immediately. 

“Thank you,” the tall man said politely, beckoning Reggie towards the door. 

“Sir,” he began to protest but the man stopped him. 

“I’ll take it from here, Swanson.”

Charlotte stayed quiet as he made his way towards her. She felt his eyes on the back of her head as he continued to pace outside of her field of vision. He stepped closer, her eyes finally catching him as he crossed over to his desk. Leaning against it, his mouth tightened into an expression that Charlotte had difficulty reading. 

“You gave my staff quite a fright,” he said plainly. “We’ve never encountered a human that understands our language.”

Charlotte stayed quiet. 

“Usually, your kind mimics us,” he said, messing with something on his desk. “But they don’t understand what they’re saying. It’s all noise to them.”

He watched closely, tracking every small change in Charlotte’s expression.

“It’s not noise to you, though.” He looked deep into her eyes. “Talk to me,” he said after a few seconds. 

Charlotte looked away from him, her eyes drawn to the large window in the room. She saw a bright blue sky and white puffy clouds. He noticed this and shook his head. 

“You’re very smart, I can tell. Jane told me what happened in the Infirmary, that it wasn’t the first time you’d removed the needle. She said it was always in ‘retaliation’.”

Charlotte watched the clouds move across the sky, the wind blowing them faster. 

“You don’t like it when we treat one of your kind poorly.”

Charlotte met his gaze, threatening him to continue with her eyes. 

He smirked, “Is that what it’s going to take? Should I call F6423 in here and give you the proper motivation?”

Charlotte clenched her teeth, dropping her gaze. 

“No.”

The man smiled widely, his eyes giddy with excitement. “From what I’ve been told, you came here on your own.”

“Yes.”

“Where are you from?”

Charlotte remembered the cabin, wondering just how far she’d traveled. “A mountain, very far from here.”

“Do you have a name?”

Charlotte nodded. “Charlotte,” she said quietly. 

“Are there others–more like you?”

Charlotte knit her eyebrows together in anger, rising from her chair. Was he really trying to get more humans for his farm?

He raised his hands in defense. “F6423,” he warned. 

Charlotte sat back down slowly. “They were killed.”

He shook his head bitterly, Charlotte assumed he was only doing so because he couldn’t bleed the dead, and not because he was sad they were gone. “Shame, humans like you are very rare.”

Charlotte wanted to scream at his insensitivity–he was what she pictured vampires to look and act like. Bumbling vicious idiots with no empathy for anyone but themselves. He disgusted her–using violence to get his way. Prying information out of her for his own gain. She could bet each and every one of them working here thought just like him. Hoped for it–so they would be easier to hate.

“You are going to make the perfect gift,” he mused to himself. “Velasquez will never ignore me again.”

FIVE YEARS LATER

Charlotte quietly made her way past the guests of the party, lowering her gaze to the marble floor as she shuffled out of their way. She looked upwards again, catching sight of Julio–dark and looming–in the archway. He nodded for her to come closer. Charlotte tucked her chin and dodged more guests as she walked towards him. 

“Your mask,” he said, lifting his hands up to her face. 

Charlotte let him adjust it, feeling him tug on the strings behind her head. She let her head fall against his wide chest. 

“There,” he said softly. “Let’s go.”

Charlotte followed behind him as he made his way down the hallway and towards a large wooden door. He stopped in front of it, taking a small glance backward to ensure she was ready. 

Charlotte nodded, signaling to him that it was okay to proceed. He pushed open the doors and the first thing Charlotte saw was the brightly lit study and an empty desk. Julio quickly ushered her into the room, and instructed her to stand along the wall. Within a few moments, a man burst through the doors to their left. 

Julio stood in front of Charlotte, partially masking her view due to his height and broad shoulders. 

“Charlotte?” The man asked softly.

Julio nodded, he stepped away from her. 

Charlotte felt his eyes on her as she finally took him in. He was dressed in a white suit, a stark departure from all of the guests that were clad in black for the festivities tonight–herself included. He was much older than any vampire she’d seen as of late. Velasquez’s typical clientele were new-money rebels, however, it seemed that he was finally catching the eyes of the scions. 

Charlotte met his gaze and reached her arm out. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Bradley.”

Mr. Bradley seemed to beam before her. He coupled her hand between his own and she felt how cold and dry they were. 

“Not an ounce of fear,” he commented happily. “Gabriel mentioned how meek Mr. Velasquez’s personnel acted among his guests last month. I am pleased to say he was too harsh.”

Charlotte’s eyes stayed on Mr. Bradley as he dropped her hand. A knock came from the door and Charlotte stayed where she was. Julio looked towards Mr. Bradley. 

“Ah yes, come in,” Mr. Bradley called. 

The doors opened and an older woman walked through them. Charlotte glanced at her as she made her way over to Mr. Bradley. She was wearing a black lace dress that came to her knees and matching heels. Her curled hair hung close to her shoulders, bordering her face. She looked elegant, like a member of the elite should. 

“Lori,” Mr. Bradley smiled. “So nice of you to join us.”

“Thank you for putting me into contact with him. I am sorry it had to take place during your event,” she said, glancing over at Mr. Bradley. Then, her eyes went to Julio. “Mr. Velasquez?”

Mr. Bradley shook his head. “I’m afraid we will not be seeing Mr. Velasquez tonight. He sent his partners in his stead. This is Julio,” he gestured to him. “And this is Charlotte,” he gestured to her. 

“He is rather elusive,” she said, sticking her hand out to Julio, then to Charlotte. “Thank you for seeing me, I am Mrs. Wagner. I will be hosting a party in celebration of my husband–and no party is complete without Velasquez.”

Julio looked at Charlotte and nodded, prompting her to speak. 

“He has received your letter, and sends his thanks for your gift of wine.”

Mrs. Wagner beamed, smiling widely and exposing her sharp teeth. “I knew he would enjoy the cabernet, it’s one of my favorites.”

Charlotte nodded. “Mr. Velasquez will be sending the documents over, expect them within a week.”

Mrs. Wagner clapped her hands together happily. “I am so excited. We have a lot of people to impress, and I’m sure every one of them will be asking for his contact information afterwards.”

“Thank you for your time,” he said to Charlotte. Then he turned his attention over to Mrs. Wagner. “Well then, shall we?” Mr. Bradley asked as he stuck out his arm for Mrs. Wagner to grab. 

She took his arm and the two of them made their way out of the study. 

“We’ll be seeing you,” Mr. Bradley said, smiling at Julio and Charlotte. 

Charlotte waited for the sound of the receding footsteps to dissipate before looking at Julio. “You hate cabernet,” she said, crossing her arms. “Why agree to a birthday party of all things?”

Julio looked at her for a moment, “The Wagner name is very influential. Like she said, one party and we have all of their guests added to my client list.”

Charlotte nodded, her eyes still trained on him. She watched as his smirk fell and he looked elsewhere in the room. How long had it been since they started working together? Four, no, five years now? Living his life under a false name made more sense now than it did back then. But, that didn’t mean that she completely understood the need for such a distinction. She shook her head. 

“We have to get back to the party,” Charlotte said finally.

Julio agreed, nodding in her direction and opening the door for her as they joined the party once again. 

Charlotte tore off the mask she wore first, throwing it onto her bed to her right. Next to go were the heels, which fell to the floor one at a time with an audible clack. Charlotte moved to the mirror, her eyes catching Julio in the doorway as she messed with the zipper of her dress.

“What?” She asked, nonchalantly turning around. 

Julio came forward, spinning her around and unzipping the gown slowly to not snag any of the delicate fabric. 

Charlotte waited patiently, glancing at him in the mirror. When his gaze met hers he stepped away. 

“James called,” he said quietly. 

Charlotte’s attention was immediately captured. “He’s on his way?”

Julio nodded. “Ten minutes. I’ll leave you to change.”

Charlotte watched as he left, closing the door to her room behind him. She looked at herself in the mirror, loosening her hair from the sleek bun it had been in all night. Shaking her head slightly, she watched as loose curls fell around her neck and shoulders. Charlotte followed the strands as they met her collar bone. With her cold hand, she traced the bone there, recognizing the significance of not being able to see it distinctly anymore. In fact, as Charlotte began taking off her dress, she followed the curves of her body as it fell to the floor. 

She stared at herself, taking in the plumpness of her limbs once more. She still couldn’t shake the memory of what she looked like out there. Running off of little sleep and even littler portions of food. Looking at her body now, at what it was supposed to look like, she realized that even at the cabin she wasn’t eating enough. 

Her eyes went to her ribs, which couldn’t be seen poking through her skin anymore. There was more definition on her arms, and her thighs had actually become quite chubby. She smiled at this, pride taking root in her chest. She made it. 

Charlotte absentmindedly stroked her neck, where the memory of a long-faded scar remained. 

She made it. 

Charlotte heard a soft knock at the front door and then heard Julio’s voice as he greeted someone; James. She scrambled to her dresser and threw on a sweater and some pants. Charlotte made her way in bare feet through her bedroom door and took her place beside Julio in the doorway. 

It had been weeks since she’d last seen James. He was dressed in unusually formal attire, sporting a suit jacket and pants, much like Julio always wore. He smiled down at her, keeping his mouth closed so as to not offend–which he always did around her as well as Julio’s other staff. 

“The Wagner’s?” Julio prompted, narrowing his eyes at James. 

He nodded. “I obtained the guest list, vetted them. You are looking at, from my guess, at least twenty new clients–if you want them.”

Julio nodded, and Charlotte took in what that meant. James was an investigator of sorts, quiet, unremarkable–which made him easy to overlook and thus perfectly camouflaged. James has been working for Julio far longer than herself, and yet to this day James will swear up and down that Charlotte knows Julio better. She looked downwards, towards his messenger bag where some documents were poking out of it. 

James watched as her gaze fell and began pulling out the folders he made of each of the high-profile guests coming to Mrs. Wagner’s party. He handed them over to Julio. “Go over these, if there’s anyone you want me to follow up on, give me a call.”

Julio grabbed the stack of paperwork and glanced down at Charlotte, who was still eyeing James' bag. Finally getting the picture, Julio nodded a quick thank you. “I’ll get back to you,” he said, making eye contact with James. Then he looked at Charlotte again. “He’s all yours.”

Charlotte led James to the kitchen island like she had so many times before. And, just like back then, James waited until Julio was gone, disappearing into his office to pour over the research. James began pulling out all the documents that he’d collected over his time away.

Charlotte recalled the first time she met James. She was gifted to Julio, just as Mr. Somerset envisioned. However, upon meeting Charlotte–seeing her lack of fear towards his kind, her speech, and a million other things, just being a regular member of his staff was not on the table. So she began to live with him, and be more or less his right-hand when it came to his business. When it came time for a visit from James, Julio kept their contact brief. However, Charlotte was able to talk him into arranging a meeting for her. 

That was three years ago now–and James had already given her a plethora of information. James was worth every measly cent. Their first meeting had been about establishing a paper trail. She remembered it like it was yesterday, because it had given her something she’d been missing. 

“I really didn’t have much to go on,” James said, and Charlotte looked up at him concerned. Then, James cracked a smile. “But I found a lead.”

Charlotte’s eyes widened and she moved forward on her stool, closer to James.

James had pulled out an aerial map from his bundle of documents. “The game lands North of Somerset,” he pointed on the map, “are right here. They are owned by the State Sapiens Gaming Commission. Not to bore you with the legality, but that means records need to be kept of anyone hunting on their lands. Unlicensed hunting–poaching–is illegal, after all.” He cocked his head to the side, worried that he lost her. “Do you follow?”

Charlotte nodded.

“You mentioned that it was nearing winter, about two years ago now, correct?”

“Yes,” she said, swallowing hard.

James pulled out a few other documents. “Any Ranger in the game lands would have had to log the registered hunter, or hunters, and keep record of their arrival and departure.” He pointed to one document, which was a list of check-ins. “Five years ago, on October 5th, only twelve hunters checked in with the Rangers. Do you recognize any names?”

Charlotte took a deep breath as she grabbed the page from James. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm herself. She took a deep breath and glanced downwards, eyes scanning the line of signatures. When she got to the center of the page, she gasped audibly. She ran her finger over the thin writing of the only name she recognized. 

“Jake,” she whispered. Her heart was pounding in her chest, soaring with hope as she read his name over and over. Jake Kiszka.

After that meeting, there were dozens of others in the three years they had been working together. Charlotte hoped that this latest meeting would help shed some light on something she was curious about.

James pulled out the documents with practiced precision and Charlotte waited for him to begin. 

“There isn’t much this time, I’m afraid.” He placed a few documents in front of her. 

“That’s okay,” Charlotte said quietly. She was grateful for anything he had to give. 

“I was able to get an update on Josh. More letters to elected officials. I couldn’t stick around long–too many eyes.”

“And Sam?”

“He’s still M.I.A.,” James said grimly. “My guess is he’s out of the country again.”

Charlotte nodded along, wanting so much more than what she currently had. 

“I couldn’t find anything on Danny,” he said, messing with his bag again. “Since he has not shown up around the others, I can’t track him down.”

James pulled out a thin plastic card and pushed it slowly over to Charlotte. 

Charlotte looked over and her eyes sparked with joy. “You said there wasn’t much?” She took the card in her hands.

“It’s not much, Charlotte.” 

Charlotte took account of what she was looking at, spinning it in her hands. It was what she believed to be an ID badge. She could see the name Jake Kiszka printed on it, and below that, an obscure logo. Her breath got caught in her throat when she saw his photo. She was drawn immediately to his eyes, which were sunken in and obviously tired. His cheeks were less full and he was paler than she remembered. It looked like he tied his hair back for the photo, a tight ponytail fixed to the back of his head. 

“How did you get this?” She breathed.

“I put a tail on Josh. He picked up Jake at a coffee shop, I think? I almost lost them, someone with a bike knocked into Jake and, let’s just say not everything made its way back into his backpack.”

Charlotte looked at James, her eyes welling with tears. She looked down at the now blurry photo of Jake. “Can I keep this?” 

“I already made a copy,” he said with a tight smile. “You can keep it.”

Charlotte sat there quietly for a moment, stroking the badge.

“The logo on the badge is where I hit a snag. I don’t recognize it, and no one on my team has either. I’ll have to keep looking into it, but I’m hopeful.”

Charlotte closed her eyes to will the tears away, when she opened them again, she looked at James. “Thank you,” she said with barely a whisper.

[midnightdemonhunter]

Simulacrums of Luck, Day 3: POSSESSION.

Do you have the time for a short survey, in honor of @sillysiluriforme?

[technicallyclassyperfection]

Paul Gulacy

[nestedneons]

Nakamura Sisters by Poppel

[mamangasick]

Blame!

Tsutomu Nihei

[whereserpentswalk]

Every starship always has a few ice people on board. It's just standard safety protocol. The minimum number is three, one ice person for defense, one ice person for repairs, and one ice person for medical.

Ice people are people who are put into suspended animation for the duration of a trip, only to be taken out in emergencies. They're useful because a ship won't have to deal with another passenger just for something that won't useally happen. It also makes it so that the ice person is the least likely to be harmed in emergencies. They used to use robots for these sorts of things but now that the robots have unionized biological life is cheaper for that kind of labor.

It's a pretty nice job. Nine times out of ten it's falling asleep and waking up a few months later. Doing it once or twice can pay off your college debts pretty quickly. Compared to the other jobs you'll get with that kind of skillset it's a pretty good deal. Most medical students are encouraged to take it as their first job to pay off their student loans.

Of course, there is a weirdness to it, not existing for such a long time. Even a few months will make the way things change weird. You'll come back to your home planet and things will be diffrent. A freind will have gotten married. A child that you're used to being a baby will be a toddler. Someone will have moved away. It's not all bad, hype for movies or video games, arguments that need time to calm down, skipping out on a bad time in politics. But still, it always makes you a bit separate from everything else.

Of course, there is always the fear suspended animation won't work as intended, and your mind will be trapped dreaming, or worse, conscious, during the entire affair. Perhaps things will that lurk in hyperspace will begin to speak to you. Or worse you'll just be alone, with nothing but your thoughts, and no way to cry out.

But that's not the worst of it, at least not for most people. For most people it's the much more mundane reality of needing to be an ice person for more than just one or two trips. You'll fall asleep and wake up months later, ten, twenty, fifty, a hundred times. And you'll find yourself only seeing the world through snapshots, really only having your other ice people to relate to. You'll be from a diffrent time as everyone the same age as you. It's better pay then any alternative, but there is a greater cost. Soon enough you'll be walking through your homeworld and it'll be alien to you, decades in the future from what you were raised to be in, you'll be wearing a diffrent eras clothing, speaking in a dead dialect, like a ghost from the past.

There was a young engineer who recently returned from being an ice person. Poor thing, she was sent out on an ambassador ship to an alien system thinking it would be about six months, but it turned out she was gone for decades as a war between that ship's nation and the alien homeworld broke out. When she came back all three of her spouses had died of old age, and her son who was an infant when she left was older than her when she returned, and her grandchildren she had never met were her peers.

[judgeitbyitscover]

Southern Reach series (10th Anniversary Editions) by Jeff VanderMeer

Cover art by Pablo Delcan

MacMillan, 2014-2024

Annihilation (2014)

Area X has been cut off from the rest of the world for decades. Nature has reclaimed the last vestiges of human civilization. The first expedition returned with reports of a pristine, Edenic landscape; the second expedition ended in mass suicide, the third in a hail of gunfire as its members turned on one another. The members of the eleventh expedition returned as shadows of their former selves, and within weeks, all had died of cancer. In Annihilation, the first volume of Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach Trilogy, we join the twelfth expedition.

The group is made up of four women: an anthropologist; a surveyor; a psychologist, the de facto leader; and our narrator, a biologist. Their mission is to map the terrain, record all observations of their surroundings and of one another, and, above all, avoid being contaminated by Area X itself.

They arrive expecting the unexpected, and Area X delivers—but it’s the surprises that came across the border with them and the secrets the expedition members are keeping from one another that change everything

Authority (2014)

After thirty years, the only human engagement with Area X—a seemingly malevolent landscape surrounded by an invisible border and mysteriously wiped clean of all signs of civilization—has been a series of expeditions overseen by a government agency so secret it has almost been forgotten: the Southern Reach. Following the tumultuous twelfth expedition chronicled in Annihilation, the agency is in complete disarray.

John Rodríguez (aka "Control") is the Southern Reach's newly appointed head. Working with a distrustful but desperate team, a series of frustrating interrogations, a cache of hidden notes, and hours of profoundly troubling video footage, Control begins to penetrate the secrets of Area X. But with each discovery he must confront disturbing truths about himself and the agency he's pledged to serve.

In Authority, the second volume of Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy, Area X's most disturbing questions are answered . . . but the answers are far from reassuring.

Acceptance (2014)

It is winter in Area X, the mysterious wilderness that has defied explanation for thirty years, rebuffing expedition after expedition, refusing to reveal its secrets. As Area X expands, the agency tasked with investigating and overseeing it—the Southern Reach—has collapsed on itself in confusion. Now one last, desperate team crosses the border, determined to reach a remote island that may hold the answers they've been seeking. If they fail, the outer world is in peril.

Meanwhile, Acceptance tunnels ever deeper into the circumstances surrounding the creation of Area X—what initiated this unnatural upheaval? Among the many who have tried, who has gotten close to understanding Area X—and who may have been corrupted by it?

In this last installment of Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy, the mysteries of Area X may be solved, but their consequences and implications are no less profound—or terrifying.

Absolution (2024)

When the Southern Reach Trilogy was first published a decade ago, it was an instant sensation, celebrated in a front-page New York Times story before publication, hailed by Stephen King and many others. Each volume climbed the bestsellers list; awards were won; the books made the rare transition from paperback original to hardcover; the movie adaptation became a cult classic. All told, the trilogy has sold more than a million copies and has secured its place in the pantheon of twenty-first-century literature.

And yet for all this, for Jeff VanderMeer there was never full closure to the story of Area X. There were a few mysteries that had gone unsolved, some key points of view never aired. There were stories left to tell. There remained questions about who had been complicit in creating the conditions for Area X to take hold; the story of the first mission into the Forgotten Coast—before Area X was called Area X—had never been fully told; and what if someone had foreseen the world after Acceptance? How crazy would they seem?

Structured in three parts, each recounting a new expedition, there are some long-awaited answers here, to be sure, but also more questions, and profound new surprises. Absolution is a brilliant, beautiful, and ever-terrifying plunge into unique and fertile literary territory. It is the final word on one of the most provocative and popular speculative fiction series of our time

[oliviarampaige]

“Radscorpion”

Day 21 - Zodiac

“Thou shalt get sidetracked by bullshit every goddamn time.”

[hellsgate-roadhouse]

[yage-bejing]

[one-time-i-dreamt]

I was visiting a dystopian-type city and that my name was “Bee’s Burt”. When I told people my name, they would cower in fear and then Jessie from Pokémon appeared and started melting.

[heykoonsy]

Word Count:  3k+

Pairing: OC x Jake, OC x Danny

Summary: Charlotte’s stay at the Somerset Sapiens Farm was short-lived, her intelligence quickly astounding the owner; Henry Somerset himself. Hoping to become a client, Charlotte is gifted to an eccentric vampire known for supplying the wealthy elite with high quality humans for their gatherings. Charlotte, however, intends to use this vampire’s power and connections another way.

Content Warnings: 18+ for mature themes

Chapter 7: Cut the Thread

Charlotte looked out the car’s window, to where Julio’s driver was coming to a halt. The first thing Charlotte saw was a large building, the windows beaming their yellow light onto the concrete below them. She looked at the stairs, at the magnificent home she’d been invited to–as a guest. Charlotte looked back at Julio, who was typing away on a laptop he’d brought with them as they dropped her off. She remembered the conversation she’d had with Danny clearly. 

“You want me to go?” Charlotte asked, eyes wide and curious. 

“My parents are making me go, so I figured I’d extend the invitation. Wanna be my plus-one?”

Charlotte looked a little uncomfortable. She’d gone to hundreds of parties like the one Danny described. She knew what to wear, what to say, how to act. But that was when she was working. There was a clear difference between being a zoo-animal for the vampires to ogle at and being a genuine guest. For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. But, seeing his pleading eyes, she reluctantly accepted. 

Now that she sat in a queue of limousines, she wondered if she should have agreed at all. Charlotte took a deep breath, trying to settle her nerves.

“Want me to walk you in?”

She looked over at Julio, who had paused his work for a moment to get a read on her. Charlotte shook her head, but as soon as the driver announced their arrival, she immediately changed her tune. 

“Yes, please.”

Julio placed his laptop between them on the seat and got out of the car. Before Charlotte knew what was happening, he opened her door for her. He gave her a moment to reach for his hand, and effortlessly pulled her out of the seat. Julio let her set the pace as her heels clacked up the stairs towards the entrance. She got a sense of deja vu for a moment, remembering her time with Josh. 

Julio took her up to the door, leading her forward with his hand on the small of her back. He made eye contact with the doorman, who asked for their names.

“She is here with Daniel Wagner,” Julio barked at him. “Charlotte.”

The doorman took his attitude like a champion, clearly not bothered by his rough exterior. Charlotte wondered just how used he was to that demeanor. Before Charlotte could apologize on Julio’s behalf, he was beckoning them inside the door. 

Charlotte looked around at the yellow light of the home. Their foyer was spectacular. She looked at the paintings along the walls, and the flowers in decorative vases. She noted the smell of food lingering in the air. This, Charlotte thought to herself, this was completely different than working at a party.

Before Charlotte got lost in the architecture of the staircase, she swept the crowd and spotted Danny. Her eyes lit up, seeing him done up in a black tuxedo, with his hair free at his shoulders.

Charlotte looked back at Julio, who was taking off her coat.

“I’ll have the car pick you up at three, be outside.” Julio said, checking his watch. 

“You look stunning,” Danny said, but was interrupted by Julio pressing Charlotte’s coat against his chest.

“Have her outside at three, my driver is prompt.”

Danny gave him a tight smile, nonplussed by his attitude this evening.

“He’s been like that all week,” Charlotte said. “You should have seen the look he gave the doorman.”

Danny smiled and grabbed Charlotte’s hand to lead her down to the coat closet.

On their way back, Charlotte spotted someone standing off to the side of a large group. They were all laughing together, champagne glasses swirling with light liquid.

“Mr. Bradley?” Charlotte tapped him on the shoulder. 

His eyes flashed over to hers. He looked her up and down, smiling widely. “Charlotte, my goodness, don’t you look gorgeous!”

Charlotte beamed. It was nice to see another familiar face here. In fact, the more time she spent at the party, the more she recognized the other guests invited. She’d seen a lot of them at the parties she’d been employed at. Unbeknownst to her, Danny stepped closer. 

“That’s what I said,” Danny placed a hand on her back. 

Mr. Bradley spun his finger around in a circle, and Charlotte looked embarrassed, but complied. She stepped away from the two of them and twirled her dress. She watched as the red tool glittered in the light of the room as it swayed clockwise. Once she was done, she brought her hands up to the sweetheart neckline nervously. 

“My dear, what you have, they don’t have words for,” Mr. Bradley said. “I did not realize you’d become so enamored, Daniel.” His eyes went over to Danny, assessing him quickly. 

For a moment, Danny seemed genuinely embarrassed, hiding behind a shy smile. “My thoughts exactly.”

Charlotte felt her cheeks redden. “It was great seeing you,” she said, finding her smile again.

“Join me for a dance, later, eh?” Mr. Bradley raised his glass at her before Danny led them away.

As they walked away, Charlotte could still feel the warmth on her cheeks, the beating of her heart. There was a small moment where she had forgotten about him. Her loneliness was lifted off her shoulders for a second–the weight no longer threatening to crush her into nothing. But–she couldn’t shake the feeling that it was wrong.

Charlotte stopped, her eyes finding Danny’s back as he faltered. He looked over his shoulder at her, turning to face her slowly.

“Danny…” Charlotte paused, unable to find the words. 

Like he knew exactly what she was thinking, Danny gave her a chuckle. “You don’t have to say anything, I get it.”

Charlotte wondered if that was true–if he was really okay with things as they were now. “But,” she trailed off.

Danny stood in front of her–the realization at just how tall he was when he wasn’t slouching for her comfort finally hitting her. He looked down at her through his long eyelashes and dipped low into her face. She could feel his breath against her cheek and her skin prickled at the sensation.

“Just for tonight,” Danny said, “choose me.”

Charlotte watched as he stepped back, giving her the choice of bridging the gap if she wanted to. Charlotte thought of Jake–his ever-present absence. He had known about her for weeks now–bordering months. And yet, where was he? When Charlotte mustered up the courage to ask the boys, they couldn’t give her an answer–because not even they knew. She felt the emotions well in her chest, and raised her hand. 

But then she saw Danny–looked into his warm, inviting eyes. 

If she were going to choose him for tonight, it was not going to be in anger. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She thought back to their negotiation in the cellar–that one single moment spinning her world off its axis. She remembered their talk at the stream–how he’d let her go on and on about her family because she needed it. She couldn’t remember when it had happened–maybe when they’d met again at his father’s celebration–but she knew her feelings for Danny were more than a simple friendship.

Charlotte felt a smile creep onto her face because she knew that she needed to reach for Danny’s hand not in anger–but in gratitude. She realized that she couldn’t love him, not in the way he deserved, and Danny knew it too. But that didn’t mean that she could not admire him. Bask in his glow. Feel his love. The moment she reached for him, she wanted him to know that in this moment his feelings were accepted despite not being reciprocated.

Danny smiled as Charlotte’s hand fell into his. At that exact moment, Charlotte heard a variety of string instruments begin playing. The two of them looked across the room, where several women in their gowns were being swept away to the floor. Charlotte felt Danny’s hand tug on hers and she looked up at him. 

His eyes spoke to her and in seconds, her smile gave him a reply. Danny led her towards the other dancers, his back turned to them–eyes trained on Charlotte. When they began, Charlotte felt Danny’s hand on her left shoulder blade, the other gently holding her palm in his. Then, she felt Danny pull her close to him, his eyes finding hers. She felt the electricity pass between them and her heart leaped in response. 

Charlotte felt him pushing her backwards, initiating their dance. She followed suit, surprising Danny. 

“When did this happen?”

Charlotte looked up at him. “I learned through work,” she said as Danny dipped backwards to the right and led her forward. “Velasquez wanted to make sure all of us were ready if the opportunity arose. I haven’t gotten to dance in a while, though.”

“You’re very good,” Danny said. “My sister always steps on my toes.”

“You sure it’s not on purpose?” Charlotte asked, raising an eyebrow. 

Danny chuckled, “it very well could be.”

Danny did not take his eyes off her, and his smile did not drop for a second. Charlotte dipped her head slightly and breathed Danny’s scent. The cologne he wore was light and fresh, or maybe that was just the clean scent of his suit? Regardless, Charlotte took her time to enjoy this moment. She let herself be swept away underneath the yellow glow of the lights. She closed her eyes, enjoying the subtle string instruments playing all around them. She took care to memorize the sensation of Danny’s hands on her, the feeling of his breath leaving his chest slowly as they spun around in unison with other dancers. 

In the next few moments, Charlotte heard the music swell. She watched as Danny pulled her close one final time and whispered something in her ear. 

“I love you.”

Charlotte heard the music stop, but she couldn’t tell over the beating of her heart. Her eyes flicked over to each of his as if to answer him, a small smile spreading across her lips.

Thank you.

“Ahem,” a voice called from beside them.

Charlotte and Danny both looked over and saw Mr. Bradley standing there expectantly. “I believe I asked for a dance earlier,” he said. 

Charlotte chuckled, looking back at Danny.

“I’ll find us some drinks, then,” Danny said as he left the floor.

Julio looked past James as his driver parked at the address Jake Kiszka gave him. He took a look at the exterior of the building they were to meet inside. It was just your run-of-the-mill office building, a dime a dozen. Despite how regular everything was around them–he understood that this was a very important meeting he was asked to. And he was going in virtually blind. 

“Let’s get this over with,” Julio said, deciding that he’d had enough of a look at the place. 

James followed him through the parking lot and into the doors of the office. It was barely lit, tipping Julio off that this meeting they were having was unofficial–if not off the books entirely. He looked over at James, who was getting the same feeling. 

“The conference room is this way,” James said, taking the lead as he walked down the hallway and deeper into the building. James was just here, so of course he’d know his way around. The memory of the phone call came rushing back, and Julio’s head swam with dread.

Julio followed closely behind James, keeping an eye out for Jake. The closer they got to the conference room, the easier it was to hear strings of conversation. When they got to the designated meeting area, Julio heard all voices stop. The two of them heard footsteps coming closer and then watched the doorknob twist.

When the door opened, Julio was met with a white haired gentleman dressed in a gray suit. He gestured towards the conference room. “Gentleman, it’s good to see you. Come in.”

Julio went in first, taking in the room quickly. He saw a large white table in the center of the room–four chairs pushed in. His eyes immediately went to the only other person in the room–Jake Kiszka. Julio narrowed his eyes at him, a lot of feelings welling up in him at once. However, there was only one that really came to the surface. Anger.

“I’m Gary Alleman,” the man in the gray suit said, gesturing towards the chairs. “Please have a seat.”

James took his seat first, giving an awkward nod to Jake from across the room. Julio sat next to him, eyes trained on Jake–threatening him. Jake did not seem bothered by this in the slightest. 

“Give us the room?” Jake asked Gary politely. 

Jake gave him a few seconds to leave, and even then waited longer–until he was out of earshot. Jake took his time to cross the room and sit down across from both James and Julio. Without bothering with introductions, or an explanation on why they were all here, Jake proceeded to dig out a manilla folder from a pile of paperwork on the table.

Julio watched as Jake slid over some documents to their side of the table. Julio didn’t bother reaching for it. James hesitated in his chair. 

“You were trying to get your hands on this, weren’t you?” Jake asked simply, directing the question towards James.

James nodded and took the pages in his hands. He looked through them quickly, eagerly searching for what he knew was there. He looked up at Jake–and then at Julio.

“I had my team look into your bank statements, I knew something was off when you had next to nothing to your name.” James said, looking back at the documents. “Seven jobs in five years–and this is where you were keeping all of it.”

Jake looked at him, impressed with his work. “You sure did your research.”

“I just knew it,” James said, his eyes locking onto Jake. “It was no coincidence that you worked for Unified Bank and Trust. Over five thousand locations in the country–and three hundred overseas.”

Jake nodded. “I was able to create a numbered account with them, with some help.” He gestured towards the door that Gary left out of. 

James felt a smile tug on his cheeks. “It’s exactly what I would have done.”

“Okay, so we know where your savings account is,” Julio said, staring directly at Jake. “Why do you have it?”

Jake’s eyes flickered over to Julio, his mouth forming into a tight line. “Right to the point,” Jake said partially under his breath. “I need your help.”

Julio chuckled, but it was not a hearty chuckle–instead it was full of venom. “Go on,” he said, leaning into the table. 

Jake looked at him, and interlaced his fingers together on his lap. “I have things to do, and you have the means to get them done.”

Julio cocked his head to the side, “and you would know that how?”

Jake brought his hands to the table, sitting up and looking Julio directly in the eyes. “Because I’ve looked into you as much as you’ve looked into me. You’ve got connections.” 

Jake took a moment to watch Julio before he slid a manilla folder towards the center of the table. Julio looked in his eyes before grabbing the folder and paging through it quietly. After a few minutes, he handed the folder off to James. 

“Look familiar?” Julio asked James, not taking his eyes away from Jake. 

James paged through the documents as quick as lightning. When he was done, he sat them back down and gave Julio a nod. Julio crossed his arms abruptly. 

Julio shook his head. “I think you’ve overlooked something in this plan of yours.” 

Jake looked at him quizzically. “What are you talking about? I’ve thought of everything. Finances, legal documentation, transportation. I didn’t just cook this plan up in a night. I had years to think it through.”

Julio looked down at the table. “I’m sure you thought it through plenty. The problem is, I have too. All of this,” Julio picked up the folder again, “I could have acted on this at any time in the last two years. But I didn’t. Do you know why?”

Jake stood up from his seat at the table angrily. “Because of your own selfishness!”

Julio stood as well, his chair thrown backwards behind him. “Because there would be no point!”

James stood, placing his arm between them as they glared at each other..

“What do I need to do?” Jake asked earnestly. “Please.”

Julio settled back onto his heels. He sighed. “Cut the thread.”

Jake leaned back as well, his mind racing to figure out what Julio meant. Upon the realization, Jake shook his head bitterly. Julio watched as he understood the gravity of his situation. He didn’t mind being right when it came to hunches about embezzled funds or the mistresses his potential clients kept–but being right about this? Julio would have traded everything he owned to be wrong. 

“I’ll do it,” Jake said after some time. “In exchange, I will work for you–until the day I die.”

Julio narrowed his eyes at Jake, and James dropped his arm.

“Is that something you can promise?”

Jake nodded. “It is.”

Julio collected himself for a moment. “I take it this was the plan all along?”

“I researched you well enough to know you don’t do anything for free.” Jake said. “My life is the only thing I have to give.”

Julio made a noise in the back of his throat. “Then we have a deal,” Julio said as he outstretched his hand to Jake. 

Jake held it firmly in his own, his eyes not wavering for a moment.

James watched in disbelief as the deal was made right in front of him. He couldn’t interject, couldn’t fathom going against Julio during such an important meeting. As the two of them made their way back to the car, James stopped in the middle of the parking lot. 

“Sir,” James said, not quite sure what to say, but knowing that something was deeply wrong. 

“What?” Julio asked plainly.

James struggled to go on, his head swimming with the conversation he’d been a part of today. 

“Whatever you’re thinking, it’s wrong.” Julio said, sensing that he was not going to be getting much input out of James. “Trust me.”

James looked into Julio’s eyes for any note of deception. When he found only the eyes of his friend, he took a deep breath. 

“I trust you.”

[technicallyclassyperfection]

art by ian miller from james herbert's "the city" 1994

[nestedneons]

The Observatory by Poppel

[whereserpentswalk]

You were born to be a sacrifice. When you first exited your mothers womb the oracles decided that would be your fate. They tattooed your hands and forehead so everyone would know.

When you turn twenty, they'll take you to the church, and they'll set you on fire. And then when your body is burned they'll give your ashes for the angels, and the angels and saints will be proud, and bless your community and family with great riches. Or at least that's what they say.

When you were young it didn't seem to mean anything that you were born to die young. Nobody cared, they just saw you as another kid. But it was always there. Adults would ask other kids what they wanted to be when they grew up, but they'd ask you what you would do once you were a ruler in the court of heaven. They'd tell other kids about marriage and sex and having children, but for you that would just be for other people, you'd die a virgin.

And at a certain age, you were removed from school. Because they said you wouldn't need it. That you shouldn't be wasting your time on such things. And you didn't understand, but you understood that all your freinds were upset that they wouldn't see you anymore. Not as much at least. And people talked about you so much differently from then on. You weren't complimented as strong, or as smart, or as ambitious, you were pretty, and pure, and brave, and dutiful. And everyone talked about how proud they were of you, how wonderful it was that you were going to die for them.

They were so nice to you. They gave you so many gifts and jewelry. You got to spend all day inside playing video games, and you got the best toys and got to go to movies and plays when you wanted to. Soldiers in power armor would bow when they saw you, and robots and cyborgs would turn off their lights. And you sat at a special place in church, and the clothing you wore was diffrent then everyone else's. And people talked about how wonderful you were, and how pretty you were, and how much they loved having you when they knew you wouldn't be on this world for long. And they were so proud of you when they showed you the platinum clothing you would wear on the day of your sacrifice. And you didn't understand why but all of the compliments sounded sad.

As you grew older things changed. The other children went through puberty, but you didn't, they gave you surgery to prevent it, ans told you how pure you were for not producing blood or seed. And you were old enough to understand that you would die, that you would burn, and it would hurt, and that nobody really knew for sure what happened after peopled died. And you saw a sacrifice, and saw the pain they were in, and there weren't any angels, there were only priests watching and chanting, and the smell of burning skin.

Your parents and family started to care much more how you behave. To make sure you're polite. To make sure you're a good sacrifice, who the angels will like. And meanwhile while all your other freinds are going to college, and talking about becoming artists, or starship pilots, or scientists, you know you'll only ever have one ending. But still, everyone loves you, and you don't have responsibilities, but still sometimes you think about how much diffrent life would be if you were born differently.

You've started meeting people who've left the faith, or people who didn't grow up in it, people who believe in diffrent religions or in no religion at all. And your heaven seems less and less certain every day. According to imperial law you're allowed to be sacrificed, but if you choose not to they can't force you. But if you choose not to you can never be a part of your faith again, and your family will be disappointed in you forever. All your family and community, everyone who you ever knew, will consider you a failure, a coward doomed to hell for not going through with what the cosmos planned for you. And all that pride and joy they felt about your fate would be replaced with anger that you never became what they were so happy and proud about you being. You don't think you believe in heaven anymore, but you still might choose to die, if it means they're proud... it's what you're raised to do, you don't know who you'll be if you choose to leave.

Better choose fast darling, it's only a few months away now. You don't want them to be upset.