Gray jeans, a simple white T-shirt, 1 90cm tall, black glasses, black hair and a perfect smile. No matter how you looked at it, he was perfect. Currently, the subject has been interacting normally with the people, chatting, throwing some jokes and overall, not doing anything suspicious.
Things had been like that for the past days, and I kept stalking him, hoping that he would suddenly march to the headquarters of the True Fear Church. But sadly, none of that was happening.
I was currently hiding behind a bush while spying on my boss, William. Although it seemed quite stereotypical, it worked better than I thought.
"Could you tell me why are you spying on your boss? ".
"Because it's fun, isn't that the reason you tagged along? ".
"...".
Although I had different reasons, it wasn't a lie to say I hadn't had fun these days. William was just too popular. I remember times where I had to attend celebrities that just came to see William at the café. That guy is just a magnet for attention. He even told me that a short skeleton teleported to the café to enjoy a drink. That day I really envied the guy.
While watching him me and Alina started counting random events.
Times flirted with = 19
Times encountering celebrities = 3
Times being asked for an autograph = 12
Times approached by a model scout = 6
All that happened in three days, at this point Alina started considering asking for an autograph herself. Seeing that I wouldn't find anything new today, I started heading back to the orphanage, accompanied by Alina.
"Haven't you thought about asking William whatever secret you're trying to uncover? ". Alina stopped walking and asked me.
"I know you wouldn't pry onto someone's life without a good reason ".
It was raining, but her magic blocked all the raindrops heading towards us. I understood her, I shouldn't be stalking William, even though I need to do it, not telling her why means I don't trust her enough.
" You don't have to tell me anything, just do what you think is right ".
She let me maintain my secret and trusted me. I wanted to tell her everything, but if she learns about the True Fear Church she might get in danger.
"I promise you that one day I will tell you everything about myself ".
That was the least I could tell her, a faint promise. She just smiled at me and made a hole on her magic umbrella making the rain reach my fur.
" I hope you keep your promise, liar ".
***
The next day, I changed my strategy towards William. Instead of spying him and hoping to find any secrets, he would tell me about them himself.
While working as a barista I deliberately wore long sleeves, this was the first step. Later that day William noticed it and asked me about it.
"What's up Zen, hiding something under your sleeves? ".
I acted as if I was troubled.
"Well, if it's you I think I can show it ".
With a sight I showed him my wrist, looking at his reaction he seemed really conflicted about it.
"Zen, do you understand what that symbol means? ".
"...Yes". With a sudden pause, I responded to him. On my wrist, the symbol of the True Fear Church was imprinted with purple colors.
William told me to cover that, that terrorist cult wasn't really popular among people. But I still insisted, I wanted to make him believe that I was truly devoted to the cult.
That was the core of my strategy, cults often prefer getting younger members to brainwash them more easily so William should see this as a golden opportunity.
"William, I know that right now I sound like a madman, but you have to believe me ". As I kept going, William slowly started hearing my words.
"This world doesn't feel like reality, this can't be it. There are so many imperfections and so many people suffering to this day ".
"..."
"You know it too, don't you? Our free will doesn't exist here, if we were truly free then the prophet couldn't be able to predict a determine- ".
"Zen ". William sharply cut me.
"You're talented, I'm sure that you'll accomplish great things in your life, don't ruin it for that cause ".
The gaze William shot me was warm but at the same time distant.
"I want to see what's beyond, I want to see the truth ".
I stated my objectives clear, and William just glared at me and ended our conversation with the next words.
"Sometimes lies exist to protect us, is the truth even worth it Zen? ".
After that the atmosphere between us was tense, but I achieved my goal. William's mind has already been eroded with the idea of recruiting me into the True Fear Church.
That night I couldn't sleep at all, the last words of William made me ponder. Why I want to uncover that cult? I can live in this new world and be happy, but at the same time I can't ignore my past. What good would pursuing the truth give me.
The player, Gaster, myself.
All those mysteries could just remain as mysteries.
But I still wanted to know the truth, I didn't know why, but it felt as this path was clear for me, as if something was already guiding me, like a silent whisper to my ear telling me this was the right path.
'Almost as if I've already walked this path before'
***
The next couple days I kept showing slight signs of adoring that cult and I got reprimanded by William every time. He sure was hard to get. Even Alina, who didn't know what I was doing started questioning what was happening between us.
"Is William going to fire you or something? ".
"We just have... differences ".
"This situation pmo ".
"???".
"This situation pisses me off, don't you understand basic slang? ".
I was speechless as Alina's klitklot addiction started to surface, hopefully I was an employed and responsible 14 year old.
William still didn't tell me about him being a member of the True Fear Church and I still was trying to make him believe that I truly wanted to join the cult.
I think from his point of view I was just trying to be edgy and dark. But I could feel it, slowly but surely his opinion is starting to change, eventually he'll reveal me the secret and I will finally be able to take action.
***
As I was sparring with Lyanna, she told me about the world matters. The integration of monsters was going well. The world's economy, pioneered by Alphys's Magic and technology was on a rise. Thanks to the return of magic, healthcare became much better as they would just cast a healing spell to you, which was even effective against body diseases.
Everything was going well, except one thing. The prophet of humanity has seemingly secluded herself on her house, the student's whereabouts are seemingly unknown.
I asked Lyanna how accurate the prophet's predictions were, and she started telling me her feats. She was quite impressive and some of her predictions were unsettlingly accurate.
"But still, her prediction has been proven wrong a multitude of times, her biggest failure being that the only creature to emerge from the underground would be a demon ".
Hearing that was quite unsettling, but still, her future sight must be amazing.
swooosh!
I dodged Lyanna's attacks with ease while preparing a counter. I thrust my wooden blade at her and she easily blocked it.
I quickly tried casting a fireball, but she was able to kick me away. Before I could recover, she threw wind bullets at me, making me fall to my knees.
As she sprinted towards me, I thought about the fastest way to win. A single deadly blow.
2nd : slash
My blade shattered hers in an instant as wooden pieces flew everywhere.
I could see how her inexistent eyebrows twitch. (Can a cat's fur be considered a body-long eyebrow?)
"It's the third time this week! You can't just go around breaking stuff! ".
As she furiously spammed her magic, I thought to myself.
'Lyanna's phase 2 begins! '.
***
The day after when I reached William's café, I found it was closed. Then I noticed William in front of the building.
"Follow me ".
We walked, but we didn't exchange words. We kept walking and walking until the city was out of reach. Among the woods we reached a cabin, William just quietly opened the door and welcomed inside.
With a key in hand, he opened a trapdoor and went inside the basement. While going down the ladder, a darkness bigger than any other surrounded it.
When I finally reached the basement, I couldn't see where William was. After a brief silence I heard his voice.
"You already know too much ".
My heartrate rapidly increased as I turned towards the ladder, but I felt William's hand on my shoulder.
'Calm down Zen '.
When I prepared to confront him, the darkness faded away, or in other words William pressed the light switch.
As I saw his face I couldn't help but notice him hardly containing his laughter.
"Hahaha! Did I really get you? ".
I took a breath as I realized he was pranking me.
"Anyways, why did you take me here ". I swiftly changed the topic of the conversation to hide my embarrassment.
William stopped laughing and his look became serious.
"To tell you about my church". Then, a black symbol was made visible on his left eye.
"The True Fear Church".