Shane💀Blackheart (they/them)

@shaneblackheart.com

3779 Followers 960 Following

Author of dark LGBTQ+ speculative fiction & poetry. Artist. 30s. Nonbinary. They/them. Plural. AuDHD. ♿️ Disabled. Website: https://shaneblackheart.com

Picture of a small hotel room that has bed counter and chairs. My stuff is scattered about the room.
Picture of large machine used to clean up large amounts of water. Black stuff tracked over floor.
I once dreamed of you late in the night, your hands on my skin and our bodies close, rocking to a beat that matched our hearts A secret held as you held me; a key to a blooming garden I didn't know was mine When you joined me in the garden, we both turned the key, and the blooming swelled as the air trembled You mapped my skin like tracing constellations, your fingertips sparking shimmering stars over the garden
Screenshot of a news headline that says: Live: Bluesky is down - Live updates on the ongoing outage. Social media users are having issues.
Star’s eyes settled on mine, searching for something. I gave him a moment to process everything and held his gaze steady. He cleared his throat and picked up one of the Polaroids again to look at it. The one with me and David. We’d thrown our arms around each other’s shoulders and smiled at the camera, which had been operated by the friendly crab. “So how long have you been doing this? Going there?” “For a little bit now. But there’s this whole thing I have to adhere to, a deal I made with Nightmare.” “Nightmare?” Star glanced up at me. “A figure named Nightmare, and not the dream-type?” I nodded. “Right. Nightmare introduced itself to me when I’d drawn my first card from the deck. It explained to me what was happening, and it made a deal with me since I’d interfered.” “That sounds dangerous,” Star said as he relaxed a little. “What was the deal?”
You found me through the purple fog reached in and held me tight before you knew who you were holding before you knew what we’d become I was simply enduring and ready to die but you held space for me and didn’t flinch you didn’t run from my darkness and now I’m living You taught me how to love how to feel and laugh and glow and you banished the shadows lurking in the bleakest corners of my soul I forgot about the pain all of the years of torment I’ve endured I only saw you and the life you breathed back into me
Downtown was relatively quiet as I sat on a freezing cold bench. Snow fell softly to settle at my shoulders, and I shivered in the black hoodie that wasn’t nearly warm enough for the weather. It didn’t matter. I didn’t care if I froze to death. My hand was partially numb as I pulled out my phone, and I opened the messages app. I stared blankly at my mom’s last text as guilt flooded into my chest, and I read it several times, warring with myself. Are you still coming over today for Christmas? I hope you’re okay, haven’t heard from you all morning. I turned the screen off again and took in a deep, frigid breath. My body was worn down by the chronic fatigue syndrome that made me feel like a dead weight even on the good days, and POTS was threatening as my heart rate began to increase. I shouldn’t have gone all the way out there. I shouldn’t have pushed it. I should have just stayed home and cried and stayed miserable by myself. But I couldn’t cry. I could only feel the asphyxiating ache of it. I hadn’t been able to cry in years. “Excuse me,” a deep, British voice with a London accent said. I glanced up with tired eyes. A tall, fair-skinned elf with brown hair tied back in a high ponytail looked down at me. He wore gold-rimmed round glasses, a light gray turtleneck sweater with black slacks, and a tan wool coat. I looked away awkwardly, not wanting him to see the raw pain in my eyes. I adjusted my large, black plastic-rimmed glasses to occupy my hand. “Yeah? Can I help you?” “Are you alright? Do you need a lift home?”
I took a breath as my heart thudded. “I’ll be okay, truly. I don’t want to keep you from your plans.” When the elf smiled, my mind stopped spinning. It was gentle and genuine, and when it reached his eyes, I noticed they were red. A vampire. During the day, at that. He was very old, that was certain, as any vampire walking during the day would be, but his appearance wasn’t striking or aged. His face was soft and beautiful for a man, and being an elf, I could only imagine just how ancient he was. He looked no older than thirty. “You’re not keeping me from any plans, I promise.” He held out a hand. “Here, let me help you up. And stand slowly so you don’t get dizzy or fall.” He’d sensed my illnesses. Of course, a vampire would be able to hear a heart beating as fast as mine was. “I’m okay, really. I can head home, it isn’t far.” The vampire elf maintained that kind smile as he wiggled his fingers. “At least let me help you warm up a little before you go. My office is just upstairs, right next to the coffee shop.”
It was a long and quiet journey through the dead forest, which was pleasant enough. The silence was all Ludoviko had known for the longest time, besides the violin and the piano in his study. It had become a comfort to him. The sound of something darting through the snow caused the demi-god to freeze in his tracks, and he watched as a family of deer raced past him and into the trees. He’d become so jumpy since he left. He had no idea how he was going to tolerate what was to come. He considered just letting Roselyn starve to death and he’d dispose of their body out back, but with the ground frozen and his distaste for death, he had no choice but to endure. An annoying, invasive thought made the irritation bubble to the surface; or maybe he was just so isolated that the idea of having someone there, or something else to do involving another form of life, was beginning to sound more ideal. At least he was still in control of it all, even with Roselyn there.
Comparison image of me from October 2025 vs March 2026. I am a white nonbinary androgynous person with long brown hair and am wearing black square glasses. Picture taken in the bathroom mirror. On the right is the 2025 version of me, about 203 pounds and looking a bit unhappy. On the left is me now, 182 pounds and smiling subtly in the mirror.
There were some kiddie rides that tickled something within me, and I managed to squeeze into a small yellow car. My knees were squished up to my chest, and it was a painful realization that I was, indeed, not getting any younger. Sure, your thirties weren’t technically old yet, but I’d found a single gray hair the other day and wanted no part of it. I’d ripped the strand from my head and grabbed my candle lighter, and then watched as it shriveled up. Did it really happen if it no longer existed? No, it did not. Gray hair? What gray hair?
“Do I have to coax you out again?” I teased the environment. “Because I’m very good at that.” When I was met with nothing once more, I grew frustrated. That couldn’t have been it. I knew I could progress if I wanted to. I could change things. So why wasn’t it working then? “Fuck,” I breathed tiredly. “Well, I guess I’m figuring this one out on my own.” I turned abruptly and immediately regretted it. My head banged full on into an open door, and I stumbled back as I froze for a minute to scream internally as my forehead throbbed. The dull thud echoed throughout the room as if the environment was smirking in its own little way. When the nervous system crisis calmed back down, I looked at the door to see that a wall had formed, jutting out of one to my right. There was nothing on the other side of it, other than the part of the room I’d already traversed.
The growling returned, but softer that time. I smiled as I wandered through the maze. “Don’t you get bored driving people insane?” I asked as I put my hands in my pockets. “Why not have a little fun sometimes?” I chuckled. “I mean, my pants are already damp, so I’m halfway to a good time.” The growling faltered, and shuffling could be heard in the near distance. I stopped walking as an old spark of fear lit up in my chest, but it quickly fizzled. Something sounded different. The monster’s growl… it seemed uncertain. I could feel it in the air, something had definitely changed since I’d last been there. And then it hit me. Maybe the Backrooms were only ever an existential threat because they fed off of the energy of the souls who wandered into them. If I changed the vibe… I smirked. Oh, I was onto something.
Photo of me, a white nonbinary androgynous person. I have long brown hair and am wearing large black square glasses, several silver necklaces, a tattoo choker, and a wide neck black sweater that says 'you, me, oui' and black ripped skinny jeans. I'm in my bedroom and have my head tilted slightly with one hand in my pocket.
She pulsed around my fingers as I kept them buried deep inside, flexing them rapidly as she squirmed. It wasn’t long before the merman also approached his limit, and he drove deep as he came inside me. My cries mixed with the alien sounds of the merfolk as the water around us felt more like a warm bath than a swimming pool. All three of us slowly came down, and I watched curiously as the mermaid’s gills fluttered with her breathlessness. The merman slipped out of me but held on so I didn’t fall under. I smiled lazily as I turned to look at him through heavy-lidded eyes. “Note to self; get a ribbed dildo as soon as I get out of here. Preferably merman-shaped.” He just stared back at me with that dark gaze, the shimmering glow of the water reflecting off of his eyes. It was strangely beautiful in its own way, and I began to miss the both of them already. I couldn’t stay there though, as much as I’d have loved to recover and go for another round later. And then, I remembered my phone that had gone silent.
I grabbed the hem of my jeans and slowly worked them down, my underwear going with them. When they were finally off, the mermaid dived back underwater to where she’d been before. A rush of desire shot south as her hand cupped over my sex, and her fingers moved to explore. She probably had no idea what to do with a— My breath hitched as her fingers slipped inside, and her long tongue flicked out to circle my bud. “Oh, gods,” I breathed. Something poked against my side and I glanced over to see that a light blue blush had speckled across the merman’s pale chest, and when I looked down, a ribbed, pink phallus had slipped out of an opening in his shark body’s abdomen. Oh, fuck yes. I moaned as the mermaid devoured me below, thankfully being careful with her teeth. I reached down to wrap my hand around the merman’s arousal, and a clicking sigh escaped his throat as his eyes lowered. “Like that, shark boy?” I teased.
The merman grabbed my jaw and turned my head to look into his inhuman stare, and his face came close to mine. I smiled as his fingers slipped into my mouth and gently tugged it open. My mouth filled with the taste of chlorine and raw fish as I slipped my tongue around the digits. The mermaid’s hands explored the hem of my jeans before she wrapped her arms around my waist, and I gasped as the fingers were jerked from my mouth and the merman also latched on. My body sank as I was dragged underwater, and I quickly held my breath. Fuck. Had things taken a turn for the worst? Had I gotten too cocky and misread the entire situation? Was that it? No. No, it wasn’t. If I could change things in the previous environment, I could change them there.
My boots squeaked against the wet white tiles. Glistening water swayed in glowing arcs reflected off of the white porcelain walls, and a faint blue light emitted from the giant pool before me. The room was nearly dark, save for that ethereal glow. I huffed a laugh. At least there was mood lighting that time. I flipped through my phone and pressed play on Taste by Ari Abdul, and then set my phone on a nearby white pool chair after turning it up. As I started to disrobe, I stopped with my sweater pulled up to my chest. My eyes narrowed curiously and I slowly approached the water. Something had swum by, I was sure of it. ‘I don’t remember there being any entities in the pool rooms,’ I thought as I approached the edge. I crouched low and leaned forward slightly, brushing my fingers just across the surface. The gentle sound of swaying water was disrupted as the flow was disturbed, and a swishing sound from deep beneath the surface rippled out.
Black and white photo of me, a white, androgynous nonbinary person with long dark hair and a flat chest. I'm wearing large square black glasses and have a septum piercing and lip piercing. I'm wearing several silver necklaces and a tattoo choker. My shirt is a black cropped tank top with a high neck and low sides, form-fitting. I'm looking up into the camera with my hand on my waist.
“Hey, big boy,” I teased. “I’m right here. Not running. Just a helpless soul open for attack.” I furrowed my brow as the next growl reverberated. It sounded more like a house creaking in a storm. The shuffling resembled something large shifting across carpet… My pulse quickened and I sat forward as I looked around. Whatever was out there, it had to be huge. I wanted to hold onto the hope that I could affect the environment around me, but the more the growling became creaking, the more I feared I’d completely misunderstood what was watching me. I was certain I’d felt a shift in the atmosphere, though. Something less threatening — something more curious than murderous. “Hey, I’m just having some fun,” I said as I swallowed down the anxiety. I stood from the chair and stepped forward, my phone still in my hand. My head jerked up as the lights flickered. And then I saw it; one of the walls rippled ever so slightly. Was the place itself alive?
David snapped another picture and held the camera to the side, contemplating something. He ‘tsked’ and shook his head. “You don’t have to hide here, dreamer.” He gestured to the scene around us. “Here, you can be anyone or anything. You can do anything. Anything goes.” He then gestured toward me when I looked at him. “You can be confident if you want. All you have to do is choose to be. It really is just a choice.” My smiled faded. Was it so simple? Could I just choose to be more confident? Could I just choose to not be shy? People around me, including in the dream world, had complimented me lately. Kat thought I was cute, the clerk at the adult store thought I was cute. Even Star had said my video with Kat was hot. And when I looked in the mirror after getting the boots, I felt good. They looked good on me.
A close-up of my face. I'm a white nonbinary person. I have long, dark hair and am wearing black-framed glasses. I have a septum piercing and a lip piercing. I'm also wearing multiple necklaces, including a dark chain choker and a longer, beaded necklace with a small pendant. I'm wearing a dark top.
“Well,” Star said while holding out his arms. “If there’s anything I can help with, just let me know.” My ears burned as my mind went somewhere with an interpretation of that it most certainly should not have in any way shape or form. “What… what do you mean?” I said awkwardly and quickly followed with, “Like — like bouncing ideas off each other, you maybe having some advice, etcetera.” I’d stumbled over my words. I hoped it wasn’t awkward. Star glanced off to the side and picked at a fingernail. It was awkward. “Listen...” I started. “That’s fine, too,” Star said off to the side. “I mean, you know, whatever you meant.” My heart leaped into my throat. Was he… cool with doing that with me? “Wait, you’d, uh, help with real-life inspiration?”
But did they want to risk it not working out? Would they risk the chaos that would follow from him? Roselyn’s heart pounded in their chest. ‘Fuck it.’ They closed their eyes and kissed him before they could think any further, and they were surprised to feel his hand coming up to rest on the side of their face. Their body came alight in a way it never had before. The excitement and the danger mixed together in a way that sent them reeling, and they felt all of the years at once of their longing to be touched romantically, to be truly and wholly desired for who they were.
“Oh, do you know the Devil’s Trill?” they asked. “I think that’s what it’s called.” Ludoviko huffed a laugh. “I know a great many things.” Poising himself to show off, the demi-god positioned the bow, and after a moment of preparation, he began to play. A smile spread across Roselyn’s face as they watched. They’d never seen someone move like that with an instrument before, but they supposed it had just become a part of him like the rest of the mansion. The way he commanded the very environment with just a wave of his hand told that much.
“Please sit,” the demon tried again. He smiled. “I will explain everything.” ‘Prove you’re not just some hallucination,’ Agnes spoke internally. “If I must.” The demon held out a hand. She had expected some roundabout explanation as to why he couldn’t, or some other excuse. It didn’t matter. She’d reach out and feel nothing, and then she’d ignore him and go back to searching for a distraction. She reached for his palm. It was solid. Agnes backed away with a racing heart. ‘What the fuck is happening to me?’ The demon smirked. “Do you pray to God with words like that?”
“I love you,” the woman managed through the haze of death. The demon froze, and for a moment, he wished he could take it all back. He’d have never brought her down to Hell with him to suffer such a fate, but it was in his nature; a nature he’d grown to despise over so many years. He’d stolen so many hearts and taken so many lives, all for what? The pleasure of a drink — the sweet, savory bliss of human blood. “No, you don’t,” the demon said and climbed off of the woman. His clawed hand drifted over her face, and he closed her eyelids as she drifted off.
“I don’t know what Byleth and his little friend are doing, but I can only imagine it has something to do with Umabel. As for you and Vexis…” Shadows consumed the space and the one in question appeared in their shadow form; red pupils and dark tendrils slithering. “Who the fuck are you, and what are you doing?” “Vexis!” Sean breathed. Despite having seen their true appearance many times, it still freaked him out when it came out of nowhere. Azazel’s eyes shone with interest as a sinister smile spread across his face. “Ah, the once-sleeping god comes to visit.”
“I’ve already done much worse.” The angel’s face grew a bit more flushed than it had been. He glanced over at Byleth with glassy eyes. “So long ago it started. Something angels aren’t supposed to do.” Gabriel covered his face with his hands and made a sound of frustration. “Why did you have to exist, Byleth? Why?” The fallen angel pried Gabriel’s hands from his face. He suspected what the angel meant, that what they’d started years ago was coming back to the surface again now that they were together. “Oh yeah? What about me?” He had to hear the angel say it out loud. Gabriel stared at the fallen king for a moment in silence, and then grabbed Byleth’s shirt and pulled him forward into a kiss.
They all turned around and walked back outside, and Zagan lit a cigarette. “’The club’ is somewhere you’re going to hate,” he said with a laugh. “What, is it a fucking whorehouse?” Vexis teased. “Pretty much,” Byleth said. “Although I prefer den of debauchery.” Vexis sobered quickly. “I was kidding. It was a joke.” The fallen angel smirked. “I wasn’t.”
The machine creaked in a way that gave off the impression of fatigue. Your spirit’s energy is potent and necessary for further development. It is aiding in the grand design as it is consumed to make up for your defiance. Ignorance is a kindness granted, but the human mind is more complex than an artificial one. Scar’s blood ran cold. “What do you mean? Are you… are you feeding off of us somehow? Is that why we all keep getting so lethargic unless we drink that weird stuff?”
“But what if I just keep slipping back into daydreams?” I asked. “Would they get longer? Is it some kind of power I can exercise? What if I just continue from where I left off each time?” Nightmare made a sound of amusement. “You truly are committed to this, no matter what anyone tells you, aren’t you?” “Yes,” I said immediately. “The dream world has done so much for me. It’s helping me. I feel so… liberated.” “So why not continue as you are now? With your nightly trips into the dream world? It would continue to benefit you.” “Yes, but I…” I paused. An unsettling emotion crept up on me. “I want to switch things around. I want to spend most of my time in the dream world, and only take trips here.”
I intertwined my fingers with its, confused at the turn of events. And then it finally spoke to me in a misty voice containing whisperings from beyond the grave. “Do you enjoy having a soul, dreamer?” Something seemed familiar about it, but I shook it off. I didn’t like the way it sounded, it crawled under my skin in a way some horror films often did. “Yes, I do,” I said. We danced around the bathroom as the seductive, haunting song continued. When I started to wonder if that was all the dream would be, my anxiety spiked as I noticed eyes sprouting from the aether. Many more opened around the room; in the walls, from the dark hallway, on the ceiling. Another shrouded figure came up to the window with glowing white eyes that sent my heart racing in fear.
...they wanted to continue dancing into the evening, just wrapped in the melancholic melody of a bittersweet romance that they would never find. At least they could dream for a moment. They could close their eyes and be that young teenager again who sighed happily at the dark romance novels they chose instead of sports magazines. But, as it always would be with Ludoviko, the magic was cut like a cord that was already wearing too thin to snap. Roselyn brushed some of their long brown hair behind their ear and fidgeted. They were still standing in the sun’s light. “I’m fine, really. Dancing slow like that isn’t draining.” “No, you will rest for now. We will have more time later, perhaps.”
A selfish demi-god with a mean streak. A suicidal nonbinary trans fem. What could they possibly have in common? The pain of rejection. In response, one chose to imprison someone, the other ran off into the woods to die. Ludoviko has lived in isolation for many years in an abandoned mansion. With rumors of it being haunted by a malevolent spirit, he's guaranteed privacy. That is, until Roselyn decides to make his home their tomb. He unintentionally saves their life, but the mansion becomes their prison as he locks them away. Old habits. Despite Ludoviko's volatile temper and his coldness toward Roselyn, they begin to see something beneath the defensive mask; a being of magic who is a violinist virtuoso, an amazing chef, and someone who is just simply afraid of being loved, and of losing that love.
Picture in low lighting of a large black and white cat laying on the bed lazily, partially on his side with his arms extended, one over his face.
Picture of myself in the bathroom mirror. I'm a white nonbinary trans masculine person with long brown hair partly brushed behind an ear, I'm wearing large black plastic glasses, a reptar hoodie, silver pagan necklaces, and I have a septum and lip piercing. A large tattoo is on my left arm. I'm just standing content with my phone raised.
He took up the instrument and stood in front of the window with the pale moon’s glow, and with his chin resting on the end of the violin, he paused before sliding the bow along the strings. The sound was the only thing that brought him comfort; the lonely trill understood him, and he understood it. ‘Ludoviko.’ The violin screeched as the demi-god stopped playing immediately. Anger bubbled up inside him. How dare they interrupt his moment of peace. He despised that he had to keep Roselyn there, but it was too much of a risk to let them run free. Humans were curious creatures and once met with mystery, they would tell everyone about it — about him. Soon, he’d have more trouble than just one irritating voice in the dark.
Ludoviko cringed internally. It sounded like manual labor would be involved, which he did not do. While his strength would lend to the task of helping Roselyn carry it inside, he abhorred the idea of getting down and dirty in nature, even if it was with Roselyn. He closed his eyes and sighed, annoyed. He shouldn’t have phrased it that way. His once mostly innocent mind had gone so far into depravity since yesterday that it was making him irritable.
They adjusted their positioning, and then circled their hips against him. Their lips hovered over his just out of reach. “Do you want me?” they breathed. They already knew. His body left less to the imagination than their sheer lingerie. Ludoviko’s nails dug into their backside as he squeezed and closed his eyes. “Yes.”
Roselyn pried apart the dead vines and tried the door. It was locked. “Fuck,” they breathed through chattering teeth. They moved across the porch to look into a window, and upon wiping it clear of its icy film, they saw nothing but darkness. All the furniture still seemed to be in place though, as well as decorations. It was like the last tenants just up and left and never returned. That feeling of dread begged them to turn away again. It was potent and sent their heart racing, and while it might have worked for everyone else, no other had approached with a death wish. That was enough to give Roselyn the bravery to grab a large rock, and they smashed open the long window. The sound was deafening in the silent winter night. It echoed among the walls in the giant entrance room that remained as still as the grave. The slight breeze rattled cobwebs that hadn’t stirred for ages.
They breathed heavily over each other’s lips as everything began to melt away. Bliss bloomed within them both at the same time, and Ludoviko’s claws tore the sofa as they dug into the white silk. Roselyn’s voice echoed around the library as they arched their back and cried out. Nothing existed around them anymore but the waking dream — a dream that would come to an end much too quickly.
The heavy mixture of the ethereal music and Roselyn’s melodic moans mixed with his own sounds of desperation. He didn’t recognize himself anymore; he wasn’t even sure he was still present in reality. Whoever Ludoviko was had gone. He’d become something else; he’d let the monster swallow him whole that wanted nothing more than to completely devour the person below him that he needed so badly now it hurt.
The sound of the water moving as Roselyn stepped into it met his sensitive ears, and he stayed to listen. His mind wandered before he could stop it and he closed his eyes. They shot open again when he heard Roselyn moan with relief. They’d simply just been relaxing, but Ludoviko’s thoughts strayed to other things — much more lascivious things. He imagined the water dripping down their chest as they leaned back in the tub; their hands caressing their skin as they sank into the warmth to their neck. Another moan of satisfaction that existed only in his mind caused his eyes to fall shut, and he realized his breath had started to come faster. That dangerous siren was calling again, and the song was irresistible. ‘If only to gaze upon you undressed in the flesh, and to feel the soft skin gliding over your bones. This violence is calling me, the need to devour you whole. To be a part of you, to taste you.’ His claws ran across his chest and dug into his shirt. ‘This is a different kind of venom, one that only has one cure. How ironic it is now that I am the poisoned one.’
Video of my two cats meowing and chasing my plastic fork that was used in a jar of pimento green olives. My black and white cat is swiping and then rolling all over the floor.
2025 recap: Top artists: nikita kryukov, atrium carceri, metatron omega, ethel cain, corvyx. Top songs: requiem by nightclub, supernormal by leo lauren, middle of the night cover by corvyx, la tristeza del purpura, everyone knows that cover by ghoolie. 104 artists in the US. 28 artists from the UK. 7 artists from Canada. Listening time: 17,176 minutes.
screenshot from disney dreamlight valley of merlin talking to my character. He is saying Feelings, after all, do not like to be denied or pushed away. They always return, often stronger, until they are dealt with. These feelings must be embraced and understood.
graphic for the sale. Background is in shades of green and has a silhouette of a dragon in the upper right corner. Text says: End of Year Indie Fantasy Mega Bundle. My book Everything Is Wonderful Now is pictured. Get this book and 63 others for only $45. December 1st through 15th.
picture of a linen red hardback book with golden writing that says Secrets of the Dark Chamber the Art of the American Daguerreotype. Centered is a daguerreotype of a young boy standing solemnly in front of a book case.
baldur's gate 3 screenshot of my tav. in shades of red. a white person with long dark hair and dark lips and eye shadow, gray eyes, septum piercing. They're wearing starter vengeance paladin armor, and are becoming an oathbreaker paladin.
“You know, I told you if you wanted to go back to being God’s lapdog after all this is said and done, it’s whatever,” Byleth said, a little more loosened up after a third shot. “I’m telling you though, once you’ve sinned, you’re never gonna be the same again.”
The man stared at Alex in horror before nodding and moving to slip by them. “I just need a few things.” Alex grabbed him and pushed him back. “Fuck the meds! We need you sober. Now get moving.” The man did his best to move quickly around the room, grabbed a few clothes, and then paused when he came to his night stand. Alex watched as he grabbed a picture of all of them — their mother included. “I deserve to die,” he said with a strained voice. Alex grabbed the picture, threw it on the ground, and crushed it beneath their shoe. “Fuck the past, dad. We have a chance at survival now, all four of us. Did mom mean more than we did?”
REDACTED turned to face her one last time. “I don’t agree with what dad did to you, but at least he was on the right side of history; what little there will be left of it now.” His flip phone went off, and he knew it was REDACTED. No more time to stall. “I have to go. Goodbye.” REDACTED ignored his mother’s begging as he hurried out of the living room into the kitchen, and then out of the front door. He jammed the keys into his car’s ignition, and when he went to back out of the driveway, he hit a bump that jolted him hard into the seat. When he looked in the side mirror, he paled. Lying on the ground just half in view was his mother’s neighbor. Blood pooled beneath the man’s bald head from where it had cracked against the pavement when he fell from the impact. “Fuck, I’m sorry.” It didn’t matter. If the dissenters didn’t die then, they’d just be tortured later if they were caught. Very few of them had anywhere safe to go. REDACTED was lucky he did.
Scar carefully stood and set the remote on the sofa behind him, and he made his way out past the locker rooms and the main water park area. The sound of the water would mask any further movements, and he took a deep breath once he approached the lazy river’s entrance. The entire place had an eerie feeling about it in the low lighting, but it should have been safe. After all, the thing he sought out stayed behind the windows, and there didn’t seem to be another way in besides the elevator, which had become inoperable. No thanks to the environment caging them in.
Pocture of an I Voted Ohio sticker in blue red and white colors. It's propped up against a mirror that has a green base with carebear stickers on it.
“Oliver,” he mumbled. “My name isn’t Scar, it’s Oliver. I tried to stop it.” He looked at the monster before him and the sign. “I tried to stop you.” Oliver stood and swayed slightly as the fog cleared in his mind. He’d been such an idiot. What had he expected to happen? And the man he truly did love also loved him in return, and he’d thrown that all away for a hastily planned suicide mission. He’d truly thought in a moment of instability he would go out like a hero and make his life actually mean something for once. Clarity didn’t matter much now, though. He’d fucked up and nothing had changed. He had no idea how long he’d been trapped within the machine, but he hoped Sutekh was safe. He had to be; he’d sent that specter after him.
Ohio Over 1.4 million people in Ohio participate in SNAP, according to the USDA. Mike Cochran with the Mid-Ohio Food Collective said his agency has already been dealing with increased demand, serving about 5,000 families a day, 58% more than at the peak of COVID pandemic. [Ohio State News Bureau] One group who work with low-income Ohioans will be handing out boxes of macaroni and cheese and ramen noodles for families to take home at upcoming "Trunk or Treat" events in celebration of Halloween. [Ohio State News Bureau] U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown said she is working with fellow Rep. Emilia Sykes to create a bill that would ensure SNAP benefits are continued during any future federal government shutdowns. [Ideastream Public Media]
Black and white line drawing with a goth theme. In the center is Jack, a pale person with short messy black hair that falls over one eye, and he's wearing a sweater with a pumpkin on it that says helloween, and he's wearing ripped jeans with a patch on one side. His eyes are black and his lips are black. Next to him is a little simple cartoon ghost persona for him with spiky black hair and a tear below an eye. A grave is on the ground to the right with a skull on it and a cartoony flower vine wrapping around it. 3 little cartoon skulls are over his name, which is sketched out beside him. Surrounding the image are ghostly swirls that frame it.