"This Isn't Magic. This Is The Dark Science--it's Perfectly Quantifiable.

Angels & Demons

As you know, you will only see an angel or demon several times in your life. Perhaps a black spot at the corner of your eye causes you to crash into mailbox. Or maybe you'll see a soft mote of light hover over your friend when they pass a test they didn't study for. Collectives are rarer; meeting one is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

In Misery, they are an integral part of life. No one has ever gone a day without seeing an angel or a demon; some even follow people around at two or three at a time (the townsfolk call these Collectives, fittingly, familiars). And there are enough Collectives at a large enough volumes to be considered citizens; Angel and Demon Collectives make up 2% of the town population, and there's even a business completely run by Demon Collectives. (All human employees are required to be possessed--I'm not sure why, but Micah thinks its so the Demons can practice possession).

As a newcomer, it was a bit....overwhelming. I have only seen three Demons before coming to Misery, and they were all motes. To have clouds of these creatures flying around was an....expirience. Further study is required--no one has seen this many Collectives in one area. It's unprecedented.

It's like something in the town is attracting them....

Today In Misery

Time stopped.

For a few hours actually. 

I only know this because a few of the townsfolk and I were able to move around in this frozen world. Apparently this is a regular occurence, and a few were excited (mostly retail workers and a few of my fellow students) while others saw it as a nuisance. 

I noticed that it was only humans that moved around in the frozen world--I could approach angels and demons with no repercussions, or I could see a mermaid in mid arc; I could even catch up to the elusive peacock that runs around my neighborhood.

According to Lucas, the boy who wears welding gloves everywhere, the time stop is for those born under certain constellations. Which one is on a cycle, and apparently its the Dancer’s turn. 

Most people use the opportunity to cut class or steal from the convenience store; the more responsible ones use the time to catch up on their work.

I....used it to read. I had a lot of books to catch up on, and hours of time that didn’t pass? Of course I abused it.  

The Moon was made of gold tonight. The Moon did not like this.

How do vampires pee

Th-that's....I-I don't...

I AM NOT WHAT YOU THINK I AM. -CB

The peacock won't leave my neighborhood. Everyone sees it 3 to 8 times a day just....walking around.

Every day.

Today In Misery

I was outside of the deli with Julia when it happened.

The deli is settled between the second and third lights of a series of four intersections. Every road was empty, and every light on Crown Street, which led directly into the Lower Marcus Ward, had turned green at the same time.

I assume the driver of the green sedan yelled out "Score!" to themselves, since the moment they turned onto Crown Street they immediately started to pick up speed.

They didn't even reached the second light before the hood collapsed onto itself, as if they had hit something. The car spun and struck a mailbox, knocking it over, and then finally stopped. Julia and one other passerby ran to save the person.

Before the police came to try and control the situation, I managed to get a look at the sedan's damage. It was curved, like it was trying to wrap around a pole.

Since there were no cars, I tried to find what the person hit, and was met with empty air.

I did hear....something. I couldn't determine the sound or the source, only that it was getting further away.

Today In Misery

An entire forest grew around the town in an hour. It stayed for three hours, before dying, then vanishing completely.

No one could damage the trees, with axe or fire, which were both attempted. About 10% of them had blue leaves, and fruits in geometric shapes.

People who had nothing to fear, like Colem Arth, tried this fruit.

Colem turned into a statue of diamond. A few others grew crystal horns, or had a ringing quality to their voice. One girl, a 7th grader named Nancy Hewitt, had her eyes and tongue turned to crystal. Unlike Constant Lee Anders, Nancy Hewitt could still see and retained the ability to speak. These effects did not disappear.

Today In Misery

The cougar came back today. This time, it had stayed past sunset, so everyone was forced to spend the night. Luckily, the staff stocks sleeping bags for this very scenario.

I was given a good glimpse at why no one is called to deal with the cougar whenever it shows up. One student, I believe his name is Colem Arth, came to MSAA late, and was immediately attacked by the lion.

I will spare the gory details, but let it be known that my hands shook as I typed this, and I didn't get any sleep that night.

Several dogs tried to attack the cougar, only to meet the same fate as Colem Arth. In fact, the only thing that went out into the courtyard and survived was Principal Lee Anders, who decided to wear a jester hat today. He was too far for me to see what he was doing, but he came straight to the cougar and touched it. When he left, he held 8 bloody cougar paws. Where he got them from, I don't know. The cougar still had all its paws, since it walked away fine come sunrise.

The school gave us the next three days off due to the incident.

Building 17, Part 2

"You need my WHAT?" I had to take a step back. What would you do, Readers, if your principal asked for your blood?

Said principal casually drew a knife from his belt. "Your blood. The creature in there wants an offering."

"I would hope you knew better than to call a spirit a creature, Mr. Lee Anders." Prudence took the knife away from him. "That looked really threatening...."

"I'm a principal."

"Did you say a spirit?" I interjected. "Spirits haven't been seen in centuries..."

"Just because they aren't seen doesn't mean they aren't there. You're made of cells, no? Atoms? Quarks and gluons?"

"I-I guess....but--"

"Besides, magic can't hurt them."

"Nor should it." Prudence gave the principal a look. "The spirit should be appeased, not attacked. Which is why we need your blood."

"Why my blood?" I pulled my sweater sleeves down a bit. "Doesn't all blood work in spellwork?"

"This isn't spellwork, it's an offering. And your blood is....special."

".....No?"

"Yes. Your blood is....unchanged. It's what we call 'Unmisted'."

"....I've never heard of that."

"Its a local phenomena. But it just means that, for now, your blood is special. And sadly, that means you're a....delicacy."

I shuddered at the thought. "I--"

Principal Lee Anders stopped me. "This is our only option son. We need your blood."

I resisted for a bit, but eventually I gave in. None of Principal Lee Anders' spells worked, and Prudence's meditations gave her the same answer. My blood was the only way this would end.

Prudence carefully pushed my sleeve up and drew her knife. I clenched my eyes shut and turned away, and winced. Luckily she made the....incision on my arm instead of my palm. Principal Lee Anders quickly bandaged the wound while Prudence smeared my blood on her hands. I felt woozy; it was too much for me. The cut, the...ritual....

I tried not to throw up.

Prudence reached for the vines with both hands, and before she even touched them the vines fell away. Prudence glanced back at Principal Lee Anders, then tried to enter Building 17. However, she stopped short. "Ail'sur'ia..." She cursed. Prudence then gave me an apologetic look. "It wants you to come with."

Dear Readers, at that moment I spoke my mind.

"Are you guys going to feed me to a spirit?"

"Wha--no!" Prudence rushed to deny.

"No harm will come to you, Mr. Page." Principal Lee Anders came up and put a hand on my shoulder, and a chill went down my spine. "I swear it."

Our magician of a principal wrapped a silver thread around my wrist and Prudence's, then used golden confetti mixed with sand to draw a circle that hovered in the air around him. "Stay behind me at all times."

When we entered Building 17, the vines came up again, trapping us inside. The interior was destroyed; the walls were split by tree roots, and flowers grew at random intervals. Moss covered everything, and small glowing motes were the only source of light. It was warm, and the air felt wet.

I looked ahead at Principal Lee Anders, and he was smiling. "Let's do this."

[End of Part 2]