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An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 34 - Threats
Murphy spent the night entangled with his muse. When dawn came, he finally obeyed his tired body and took a break. Though, while his muscles protested, his mind had never been more acute. He felt refreshed, and savored his tea with a renewed taste for life. One could even go as far as to say he was happy.‘Me? Happy?’ The thought gave him pause, “For the life of me, I can’t remember the last time I felt like this.”« That’s nice and all, but we have a problem. Check your emails. »“Another love letter from QiE-Novel?” « Indeed. I would take this one a little serious, though. »Curious, he read through and laughed, “Just empty threats. It’s Europe we live in.”Seeing as Murphy didn’t relent even after his ads were taken down, they took the next step any reasonable entity would. Death threats.Next to his address, they attached a few other tidbits they scoured about him on the internet. He didn’t take them seriously, though. Their doxing didn’t pick up any more than he would have ma
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 35 - Phoenix Rebirth
By he time he ended his shopping spree, Murphy was a reborn man. He wore a fancy new black suit — one of them expensive Italian ones. He knew nothing about suits, of course, but the lady at the counter said he looked very presentable. Paired with the new haircut and well trimmed beard, he stood out positively in the crowd of middle aged men. That’s as high a compliment as he could get, anyway. Having been worked to the brink of collapse for several weeks in a row, his frame developed as if on steroids. Well defined muscles adorned his body, and he was almost uncomfortable with the differences it made. Tickling the fancy of a few ladies, he even earned himself a few not so subtle eye invitations. Sadly, with a nefarious chip in his head, he didn’t feel like starting to date now. « Good choice. Do bear in mind I can control your bodily functions. Even down there… » “Sheesh, I got it…” Almost choking on his desert, he was left to wonder why the system would go as far as to cock
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 36 - The Truth Unfolds
Like a past illusion, the flames searing his flesh vanished. Unsure if his nerves were fried or if he was dreaming, he squinted his eyes open, then closed them back up in fright.‘I’m still burning!’« Open your eyes, Murphy. The flames can no longer hurt you, but you will definitely choke to death if you linger there. »‘What do you mean they can’t hurt me? What did you do?’« It’s best if you felt it on your own. »He was choking and wouldn’t be able to hold much longer anyway, so he could only trust her and open his eyes again. This time, he took reign over his fear and stared into the depths of crimson hell. Then, he realizes he wasn’t burning. The flame was merely embracing him, shrouding him in warm and amiable comfort. Like a return to one’s home, he felt strangely at peace in their midst.Only when his lungs protested again did he snap out of his reverie and jump to the floor. « Congratulations on unlocking Pyrokinesis I. Other than heat resistance, it will also allow you to
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 37 - Escape
« You’re all alone now. I can’t do much more. »“Can’t you alert the cops? Send them the location and all that?”« They might dispose of you before the warrant is ever signed. Mind you, this is Romania. Everyone is on some payroll or another. »“Well, shit. What can I do?”He tried to twist out of his bindings, but whoever tied him was surely a professional. Even the blindfold refused to come undone, no matter how much he turned his head.« Use your brain, Murphy. »“Yeah, why not pour salt on my wounds… I’m not miserable enough as it is. I bet I look like a butter fried cousin of Frankenstein, too.”« I meant that advice literally. You are not a mere human. Use your Numen powers — mind over matter. Your Pyrokinesis isn’t for nothing. »“Oh…” he blushed in embarrassment, “Fine. Here goes nothing.”Squinting his eyes, he focused back to his feelings when he’d unveiled the second code. Other than a lot of panic, he also felt the flames. The intimacy he felt then was now absent, but he s
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 38 - Unlikely Refuge
Two nights passed since then, and Murphy was still roaming the endless forests like a lost cub.“All I’m saying is — How can you not have GPS gimmick as an AI? We’ve been heading West for 8 hours and I still see nothing but fucking trees… I don’t think using stars as guidance is even legit.”« Save your breath, Murphy. You’re dehydrated as is… »“Screw this, I need a break…”Parched from thirst and bruised all over, Murphy sat on the nearest rock he could find and stared absent-mindedly at the sky.“How is a forest any better than the desert, anyway? I’ve roamed or two days and all I see is dry sticks. Even if I had the means to burrow for sap, I doubt I’ll find any in here…”« Murphy, your whining is only making things worse. Shut up. »“Whoa!” he exclaimed in spite of his dried throat, “Did you just swear!?” « It’s the only language you speak. Now, get moving. It will only get worse when the sun rises. »“Say less,” he assented, then tuned off the protests of his body and rose back
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 39 - A Glitch
After a dreamless respite, Murphy’s engines sputtered back on. Still in a daze, he woke up in an unfamiliar environment, but found himself strangely at peace.When his sight cleared, he found himself on a couch. The sun was already up, streaming directly over his head. He thought to duck under, but then paused and stared directly into its flames. “I guess it wasn’t you playing tricks after all, huh?” He found his throat still parched, but he was cooler now. The delirium had also cleared, and he found himself strangely refreshed. “You’re awake,” she obstructed his view, “I was afraid I’d have to call in a helicopter to haul you out. Luckily, I had some IVs handy.”Out in the sun, he finally caught sight of her face. One that he found familiar, but strangely obscure. It took him a while to connect things, and while he couldn’t recall her face, that red hair was unmistakable.Somewhat fretful, he nonetheless asked the name that came at the tip of his tongue, “Eleanor?” She had been a
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 40 - Heartbeat
“This is impossible!” Murphy denied vehemently.“I had no game to speak of before this, and you expect me to charm THAT while being frankenstein incarnate?”« I didn’t know you had this little confidence. »“Blinkie, this is worse than beauty and the beast. I absolutely cannot do this…”“Uhm, mister?” Eleanor’s voice sounded through the door, “Are you alright?”Squinting his eyes in the mirror, Murphy could only end the argument prematurely. He dismissed the cyan egging him on and wrapped a towel around his waist.Opening the door, he met face to face with her, and both recoiled at least a full meter away. He stared into her eyes, waiting to see the shock and horror befit his appearance, but her startled expression faded immediately. She looked away, then drew her gaze back to his body, studying it closely as if each scar had a story to tell her.There was only pity in her eyes. It didn’t make it any better, but at least she wasn’t outright repulsed.“Who were you talking to?” she st
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 41 - The Kiss
Murphy asked without mincing his words, perhaps in the most direct and brash way possible. Devoid of any romantic passion, he simply stressed the sincerity of his plea and waited with bated breath. She stared blankly in response, unsure if she’d heard him well. When they both sunk into awkward silence for a good dozen seconds, she acknowledged he didn’t misspeak, and turned her head away. Murphy sighed again, the breath he held pushed out in resignation. Then, he also stood up. How could he know Eleanor didn’t turn out of repulsion, but to hide the traces of a creeping blush. ‘This insolent, thieving fool’, she thought, ‘How can shamelessly ask that?’ “It’s best I get going,” he muttered softly and ambled away. Yet, just as he made it past her, Eleanor caught his hand and lured him to look her way. A pair of brown eyes greeted him, closer than he would have ever expected. And closer still… Their lips met, tentatively at first, as if establishing a pact of their own. Then, they w
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