Constant sound of running water echoed out of the bathroom while I stood before a mirror, gazing at my reflection.
A tired looking man in his mid 20s with disheveled dark hair and gray-blue eyes.
Observing the dark circles under my eyes drew a tired sigh. For the past 2 weeks, sleep had slowly eluded me, just like a disease it had left me constantly feeling tired, as if a thick fog had clouded my once clear mind.
Unable to eat, unable to think... unable to sleep in peace.
I had not been in a good shape, but not today.
Today was the day I had been working towards my whole life.
Today is the day, I will finally prove that I am not a trash—'That I am not... a failure.'
Turning away from the reflection, I began my morning routine. Brushing, bathing, ironing my clothes, spraying cologne.
By the time I was done, there was still more than an hour left before breakfast would be served. But I had decided it was best to avoid eating as I didn't feel hungry and I could always order a snack later on.
Standing up, I headed back to the bathroom to check for one last time.
Gazing at my reflection. The dark circles beneath my eyes had been hidden carefully by using a concealer and color corrector, matching my normal skin tone.
My hairstyle looked immaculate complementing my light brown shirt.
Everything was as perfect it could be, with that I headed out.
Sitting in my booth, I entertained an enthusiastic fan while a line of people waited behind him. I continued signing books and interacting with them one after another, constantly smiling and sometimes even cracking a joke or two.
It was not exactly difficult for me to constantly smile, my life had been riddled with hardships where I had to smile even when I didn't want to.
Slowly with time the line of people started to thin out until the last person left happily with two autographs. It was an exhausting experience, but at least majority of books had been sold out, leaving only a handful.
Breathing out a tired sigh, I got up and stretched my arms for a bit as faint popping sound came from joints. Gazing around, the traffic of people around my booth had definitely lessened. With people gazing at different booths, either wandering around aimlessly or browsing for anything that might catch their attention.
My eyes continued to roam around, only for someone to catch my attention. A young man in white shirt and black trousers, with a lab coat draped over him. He reminded me of a certain 'mad scientist'.
'Was it a cosplay?'
He quietly approached me and asked, "Are you Mr.PentupHouse, author of the novel "Fever War"?"
I gave a nod before replying with a smile,
"Yeah and I am going on a break, so is there something you want me to sign on? Uh…"
He replied with a particularly bright expression,
"It's Astriel, can you sign on this book and can I also take a selfie Mr. PentupHouse."
"Please call me Arwin, and yeah man anything for my fans."
I took a selfie with the excited fan and signed an autograph on the cover of my own novel, making small talk to keep the conversation going as he told me about himself.
"Oh, I am a researcher. Normally I work with hardware, fixing laptops and other stuffs, but I am currently focusing my research on apes."
"Apes?" I asked.
"Well humans share about 98.8% DNA with apes, especially chimpanzees. But you might have heard this many times on different science channels as researchers and anthropologist ask what makes humans different from apes. And to understand the reason why humans could take the intelligent leap while the other ape species didn't or couldn't."
"You mean, you are trying to research why our ancestors and other human like species were able to take the leap and become what we are today, while other ape species are still stuck being dumb?"
"Apes being dumb? No, no that is just human preconception about you guys being the superior species with gifted intellect. There are many other species like dolphins, octopuses. And in studies done, chimpanzees have constantly shown better short term memory compared to humans. "
I hand the book back to him, listening to him.
"They have better short term memory?"
"In some specific tasks, yes. There was a fascinating study published in 2007. They tested young chimpanzees using a touchscreen. Numbers would appear in different positions on the screen sometimes for only a fraction of a second and then disappear. The chimpanzees had to remember where each number had been and touch them in the correct order."
"Just by looking at them?"
"Exactly. In the fastest condition the numbers were visible for only 210 milliseconds."
I raised an eyebrow.
"That's barely a quarter of a second."
"Precisely. And the young chimpanzee, Ayumu performed remarkably well. The researchers had also trained the chimpanzees to recognize sequences containing up to nine digits. But here's the interesting part the direct comparison with humans used five digits, not nine. And still humans showed worst performance compared to the young chimpanzee."
"So the chimpanzees could remember 9 digits faster than humans, while humans failed in accuracy?"
"In that particular experiment, yes. Their performance remained remarkably strong even when the numbers were flashed extremely quickly while the human participant's accuracy dropped with shorter time windows to remember the number's position."
I gave a nod, to that interesting tidbit of information. As he continued.
"Thank you Arwin for listening and I also wanted to say, I really like how you created this world and how realistic the main character responds to different situations. Do you wanna make a bet, Arwin?"
"A bet?"
"Yeah, a bet. Do you think you could survive in your novel?"
'Hm... survive? Even I had daydreamed several times while writing about how it would like to be, to live in my own novel.'
After thinking for a bit, I gave a thoughtful reply, "I could survive in my novel, but if you are asking if I can become one of the main characters like in the other famous "I got transmigrated to a famous novel" kinda titles? Then no. I mean, just to get supernatural powers in my novel, I would need to contract a fatal disease with an 80% mortality rate, not to mention the constant internal conflicts and defending against the aliens. Yeah, it would be difficult but not impossible, if I choose to live as an average nobody."
I wanted to appear polite and answer with a "No", but this was my novel. I was the one who wrote it, so if I couldn't survive then no one could. And so came my polite reply, "So yes, I can survive. It would be really hard, but I will gladly take my chances on that bet."
He nodded with a faint smile.
"Yeah, a man needs to have that kind of courage to go against the odds and stand his ground. If only you had that same courage to forego what you believed was the most important day of your life, this day that you have been working towards your whole life."
I felt an uneasy feeling spreading through my guts when I heard him. It could have been my sleep-deprived mind playing tricks, but I was too curious about what he meant.
"What do you mean?"
"What do I mean?"
As he spoke his tone shifted to being more aggressive? No if anything, it felt colder.
"Well, you could have stayed with her, couldn't you? But nooo, you had to come here, just for your own vanity."
"My vanity? Wait, what do you mean by, her?" I was confused. Who was he, a paparazzo? Someone she knew?
"Don't play the confused act, I can see right through you, Arwin." He looked at me with disdain, as he continued. "Did you even pay Soleil a visit? Were you there? When she needed you the most? When all she wanted was you to be with her. But no, you just couldn't let go of your past, could you? YOU couldn't let go of your own vanity."
Hearing her name coming out of his mouth tore my politeness away. As it became my turn to be aggressive, "What do you know about me? Nothing, you know nothing. You are—"
He cut me off, "Did you call her this morning? Even think about returning to her? Be at least by her side? No, you were just too focused on staring at your own reflection. Picking out any tiny details that could have tainted your image."
Listening to him pick apart my morning routine sent chills down my spine, I had started to feel unnerved by how much he knew about me. Only then did I notice people gathering around us. This was not a good sign. If all he wanted was to create a scene, then he had succeeded in doing so.
I buried my anger, mentally griping my emotions as I forced myself to calm down and deliberately ignored him. I walked past him, intending to head toward the restroom. The more I reacted, the more ammunition I gave him to tarnish my image.
"Go, run. Run away like you always do. That's the only thing you are good at..." ,were his last comments as I walked away, ignoring his presence. Only to hear a familiar word. "...Milksop"
I barely restrained myself from turning back and shouting all the profanities I could think of.
'Fucking bastard, all of them.'
Reaching the men's restroom, I immediately enter one of the cubicles. Taking out my phone to check on any unread messages. A list of unwanted ads and notification popped up, but nothing important. As I swipe, until I came across her message.
I hesitated to check her message, but decide against it. After this convention was over, I would visit her. As long as I did well and promoted my next work, I could return to her and do everything we always wanted to do.
'Vanity, huh? You don't know shit about me, nothing. No one does. No one except her.'
I sat in the cubicles waiting for time to pass by. As I lighted a cigarette, taking a puff, 'Once this day is over, I will be by her side. I just have to be patient.'
I will return home.
I turned on my phone to watch videos to pass time and cool my temper down.
After a while, I found myself standing in front of washbasin splashing water against my face. I freshen myself up, as I chew on mint tablets, smoothed out any wrinkles on my shirt and styling my hair back to its immaculate style.
'What was the schedule after this? Hm… ah! I have to go to panel room with other creators.'
I glanced at the Breguet watch on my wrist to check the time.
'I still have time. Let's just visit the cosplay area.'
As I continued to explore and observe all kinds of different cosplayers.
"Hey, man when is your panel scene?"
I hear a deep voice with a hint of roughness. I turned round and saw a man (6'1) in his late 20s, black jacket, with long bangs covering his forehead.
"Sup Marvin, it's in half an hour. What about you, done with your author meet and greet?"
"Yeah. Just ended now, so I thought I could see the cosplayers and buy some doujinshi if I found one that I like."
I was a bit surprised that he still liked that character.
"You still like that anime, man?"
"Arwin, come on man I am telling you Relly-chan is the best! You should really try that manga. Oh! and also I need your autograph, my nephew is always asking for one."
At the mentioning of the autograph, my mood soured.
Marvin raised an eyebrow,
"What's up? Did something happen?"
"Hm!? Nope, nothing just a bit tired. I mean it's my first time doing meet and greet and all. It is a bit more overwhelming then I thought. And no, I don't want to read degenerate manga like you do."
"Yeah, it happens to the first timers, I mean this is your first novel and it is already blowing up this much. Don't worry you will get used to it, eventually."
He says that with an expression of nostalgia written on his face.
"Yeah… hey you are going to buy the doujinshi right; can I hang out with you?"
"Come on man, I will show you the place and you might also find something you may like."
We explored the booths of various creators selling their artworks and doujinshi, seeing the place filled with people walking in all kinds of outfits and very interesting cosplays, I also saw some really interesting artwork and bought a few for myself. As we walked, I started to feel the chill as I rubbed my arms.
"Hey man, that booth is selling some really warm-looking hoodies and jackets."
I turned my attention where he was pointing at and noticed jackets & hoodies with anime figures on their back and front. Some really good art with unknown characters, and some with questionable female character art.
I considered for a moment and then went to that booth.
"Good afternoon miss, are you the artist who designed these?"
"Good afternoon. Yes, did you find anything that peaks your interest?"
"I really like this hoodie. Oh and, could you sign your autograph on this hoodie?"
I point towards a normal, but pretty good artwork. After buying it, she gave it to me in a package as I took it and attempted to open it, but Marvin interrupted me.
"Hey man you could have bought those hoodies, look how good the art is!"
I looked at hoodies he was pointing at and saw numerous questionable artworks on them, raising my eyebrows at the things he was suggesting. I shook my head with a laughter. He always had his way to comfort others.
"Yeah, you can buy those if you really wanna impress your nephew."
He winces at my reply. As I glanced at my watch and saw the time for my panel was starting in 10 minutes.
"Hey Marvin, I have to go; it's time for my panel."
"Yeah man, best of luck. Oh and don't get nervous if someone asks a personal question. Just give a brief reply or an honest one about why you don't want to answer."
"Yeah… yeah, come watch if you get bored of wandering this place."
He shouts a reply, "Remember Arwin! You are the star of that panel! Don't freeze up if there are too many people looking at you."
"Don't you worry about me, Marvin. I can never fear the crowd, I was born ready!" came my reply, as I shook my head in amusement. He always knew a way to hype me up.
I turned to leave, with the package in my hands. As I attempted to open it and wear the hoodie.
'Don't act like a fool. Don't let them demean you. You are the star of the show now, you are finally here. Don't mess this up.'
I started to cheer myself up by repeating the words don't be nervous in my head. Only to spot the same man who had mocked me earlier.
'What was that guy's name? Astro, Ast… A̸̯̰̤̾̒͐̃̐͘ş̶͖͇̹͚̼̥̘̳̺͕̣͎̠͚̘̹͕̣̹͍̙͙̈͑̓̏̍́̏̅̓̾͑͒̈́̓̽̔͒̂̆̐̓̀̑̆̓̽͘͘ͅͅt̵͈̺̟̭̀͋͌͐̽̈͐̉̽̓̅́̾͗̈́͐́̀̇͆̉͠͠r̸̡̧̧͙̙̥̥̥̖̠̯͚̰̫̺͓̖̙̭͚͖̼̩̜̠̠̿̊̃͛̓̇̆̈̐̀̉́̇̄̓̆̀̓̅͊̓̇̕̕͜͠͠i̶͔͖̺̖͕͉͚̱͖͍̥͍̳̰̻͕̱̰͎̥̰̪̥̻̯͓̫̫͒́͋̋́̋̃̋͐̇ȩ̷̛̛̺̩͚̹̮̭̟̱̖͖̋̔̔̋̈́́̔̋̆̑͂̃̿́͆̋͜͝l̵̡̡̳̼͓͈̰̣̇̏͐̏̈͝͠! Yeah its A̸̯̰̤̾̒͐̃̐͘ş̶͖͇̹͚̼̥̘̳̺͕̣͎̠͚̘̹͕̣̹͍̙͙̈͑̓̏̍́̏̅̓̾͑͒̈́̓̽̔͒̂̆̐̓̀̑̆̓̽͘͘ͅͅt̵͈̺̟̭̀͋͌͐̽̈͐̉̽̓̅́̾͗̈́͐́̀̇͆̉͠͠r̸̡̧̧͙̙̥̥̥̖̠̯͚̰̫̺͓̖̙̭͚͖̼̩̜̠̠̿̊̃͛̓̇̆̈̐̀̉́̇̄̓̆̀̓̅͊̓̇̕̕͜͠͠i̶͔͖̺̖͕͉͚̱͖͍̥͍̳̰̻͕̱̰͎̥̰̪̥̻̯͓̫̫͒́͋̋́̋̃̋͐̇ȩ̷̛̛̺̩͚̹̮̭̟̱̖͖̋̔̔̋̈́́̔̋̆̑͂̃̿́͆̋͜͝l̵̡̡̳̼͓͈̰̣̇̏͐̏̈͝͠.!'
I tried to ignore him, continued toward my destination, but he stepped in my path, blocking me.
"Is there anything you want man?"
I try to ask as naturally as I could, maintaining my polite expression.
"Yes. I am here to keep my word."
I looked at him with a questioning gaze.
'Keep his word? What does he mean?'
"What do you mea…"
I was in the middle of asking, as suddenly I was hit with a powerful wave of dizziness. Fatigue spread throughout my body, and it felt as though my eyelids were trying to close on their own.
'What?! I can't keep my eyes open and I... I feel so… so tired...'
I tried to stay conscious, rapidly blinking my eyes to stay awake but it barely worked. I looked at the man, who stared back at me with an emotionless gaze.
"Unlike you, I keep my words, Mrs. Halls. I do hope you try your best to survive. Because if you die before the story ends then you will be gone forever, just-like-one of the side characters in your book. Away from your home, away from her.", he continued with a smile that didn't reached his eyes.
"Oh, and as a gift for being an outsider I will give you a higher chance to survive the disease. I mean that's the least I could do for you."
I look at his devious smile, which sent shivers down my spine. But I couldn't properly hear what he had said clearly, with my entire focus on trying to stay conscious and shout for help.
Constant wave of dizziness and sleep crashed against my mind, as I failed to resist with each wave growing stronger until I couldn't last.
My last terrified conscious thought being, 'Is he an obsessive fan of mine?'
I regained my consciousness in a dark place, still feeling woozy from whatever had happened.
'It's so dark. I can't see shit in here.'
I tried to move my body but I had never felt so weak, this darkness that was covering my vision felt like someone had covered my face with a sack or something except it was all wet. I attempted to shout, but I couldn't even feel my mouth move as if I had lost control over it.
'Did he paralyze me?'
Slowly the stillness of my body made me realize something, I was not breathing? 'Shit! No, no!'
I started to panic, attempts to take in breath, but my lungs would not work. Only to then realize I was not suffocating due to lack of oxygen; rather, I could still breathe—somehow just not through my lungs. But my consciousness started to rapidly fade as I fell asleep.
After spending an uncertain amount of time sleeping I had woken up again and after spending sometime in this place, I had pieced together some information about about what was happening. I would momentarily gain consciousness allowing me to think for couple of seconds or a few minutes sometimes, only to then fall back to sleep from how mentally exhausting it was for me to think.
'Ok, it's still dark that means I am in a dark room submerged in some liquid, I don't have too much space to move and I get tired rather easily and fall asleep after only thinking for few minutes, did they drug me? or is it something else. So what can I do more?' I asked that question to myself.
There was no up. No down. No sense of direction.
'I have tried everything from kicking to shouting, but I can't open my mouth for some reason, no matter how hard I try. It seems like whoever has kidnapped me has also paralyzed my mouth and lungs. I can't control my body movements properly as my own body feels too sluggish and I also get tired rather easily, What do—I…do'
I slowly fell asleep once again, just one of the many times.
'Hm!... I... I! feel something!' I could see the change in the tone of the darkness surrounding me.
Then something changed, I felt a stinging sensation on my scalp. As if someone one was squeezing my scalp, trying to crush it. An agonizing pain stabbed my head to the point it would have been better for someone to just shoot me and end it all.
'Stop it! StopppPP—FFUUUCCC!! AHHHHH!!!*'
I would have emptied my lungs out, destroyed my throat from screaming, if only I could speak.
Then, without warning, I was blinded by a sudden burst of light. But this was just the beginning.
'Why!? Why am I feeling the pain traveling down through my head?!!! Ah goddamn it, its my shoulders now!!' It felt as though someone was squeezing my shoulders inward, forcing them toward the center of my chest.
Slowly I began to feel cold from my head like I had been dipped into an ice bucket, as this coldness wrapped around my head and slowly to shoulders which was overwhelmed by the agonizing pain traveling down from there to my body and slowly to my legs until it's just stopped.
Within few seconds the pain throughout my body got duller until I couldn't feel anything, anything except cold.
'What the hell, why the fuck is it so cold now? Am I in the fucking Antarctica? No wait, I am naked aren't I. They stripped me naked.'
'It's so fucking bright, too. I thought Antarctica didn't have the sun during this time of the month, wait. Was it a different month? Shit I don't even know.'
As I was preoccupied with the sudden increase brightness, burning into my eyes as if I was in front of the fucking sun. That I failed to notice a strange heaviness in my chest.
Coming to my senses, It felt abnormal, not even once had I felt this heaviness in my chest. Was it a sudden heart attack?
Only to suddenly realize I couldn't breathe, and if I didn't breathe then I would suffocate to death.
'Shit. Those fuckers paralyzed my mouth, they must have done something to me. Breathe, breathe! Goddamn it. Just breathe!'
Putting my every effort in order to breathe, but my mouth wouldn't open forget about inhaling. As if it's like my body had forgotten to how to breathe.
Suddenly, a searing pain spread from my ass, traveling up my spine.
'Ah fuck, it hurts, it fucking hurts.'
Someone had spanked me.
I was so furious that I instinctively opened my mouth and rather than spewing profanities, however I began to scream loudly. And through the overwhelming pain, I could only find purchase on one fact that being—I could breathe.
'Ah it hurts. It hurts so much. All of it hurts so much.'
I slowly fell unconscious due to how physically tiring this whole ordeal was.
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AN: I didn't know that it is this hard to create the beginning to a story. (Originally posted on 21/8/2025).
And original was smaller around 2200 words but, I am re-writing chs.
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Facts: Yes, in actuality Chimpanzee have far better short term memory compared to human. You can check out this Youtube video "The Cognitive Tradeoff Hypothesis" by Vsauce.
*Paparazzo is singular noun for Paparazzi.