Page 90
Story: The Sin Binder's Descent
“Also,” I add, pointing a dramatic finger at the ceiling, “if my mouth starts randomly confessing anything about dreams involving wedding rings and a house full of chaotic magical toddlers that are definitely not mine but definitely look like Luna, youshut that shit down immediately.”
Riven stares. Then turns, deadpan, walking off like I’m not worth it.
I follow Riven because he’s moving like something matters, which means I should probably pretend to care. Even if my brain is still half-frosted with sugar and the memory of my mouth saying something to him that Iabsolutely never said.I’m not even talking in metaphors this time. I literally did not say that. My lips stayed closed. My soul, however, apparently didn’t get the memo.
And now I’ve got a new problem. Because it’s happening again.
“I sometimes rehearse insults in the mirror just in case I run into Orin again.”
The voice is mine.Exactlymine. Not similar. Not mimicry. Mine. Except I didn't say a word. I'm just walking.
“Shut up,” I mutter under my breath, and Riven glances back like I’m about to try a cartwheel down the hallway.
I wave at him. “It’s fine. I’m fine. Just—uh—exorcising my internal monologue. Very spiritual.”
He snorts. Actually snorts. Like I’m amusing. Which isdeeply offensivebecause I am hilarious and should be treated with awe, not mild entertainment.
We turn the corner.
“I don’t understand what taxes are.”
Itrip. Not on anything. Justtrip. Overreality. I slap a hand over my mouth like I’m trying to muzzle a feral dog.
“I thought 'Renaissance' was a type of pasta until Orin told me it wasn’t,” my voice says.
Riven stops walking.
Dead stop.
Slowly turns his head and looks at me. Like he’s trying to figure out if I’ve been possessed by something stupid.
Which, honestly, maybe I have.
Because now my voice is whispering again. “I once had a crush on a sentient shadow because it told me I was pretty.”
“THAT ONE WAS A JOKE!” I snap, hands up. “I was doing abit. I’m a comedian. You know this. That wasn’t eventrue—well, not emotionally true.”
Riven lifts a brow.
I spin around, checking the empty hallway like I’m going to find a microphone or a speaker or one of the other me’s trying to mess with me. The walls don’t answer. The shadows stay put. There’s no spell sigil I can see. Just me. Me and my mouth and the internal chaos leaking out like a cracked egg of shame.
And then it happens again.
“Sometimes, when Elias falls asleep near me, I draw a mustache on him and blame Caspian.”
I freeze. Horror washes over me like cold soup.
“Wait,” I say. “WAIT—how the hell woulditknow that?”
Riven just stares at me.
And then the voice whispers: “I don’t actually know how to swim. I just float dramatically and hope I look hot.”
My soul detaches. My dignity dies in real time.
I press my forehead to the wall and groan. “Okay. Okay. I’m cursed. This is a curse. Some ancient, petty, truth-revealing curse that pickedmeof all people to ruin.”
Riven crosses his arms, not even pretending to hide the amusement anymore. “Sounds like karma.”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90 (Reading here)
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144
- Page 145
- Page 146
- Page 147
- Page 148
- Page 149
- Page 150
- Page 151
- Page 152
- Page 153
- Page 154
- Page 155
- Page 156
- Page 157
- Page 158
- Page 159
- Page 160
- Page 161
- Page 162
- Page 163
- Page 164
- Page 165
- Page 166
- Page 167
- Page 168
- Page 169
- Page 170
- Page 171
- Page 172
- Page 173
- Page 174
- Page 175
- Page 176
- Page 177
- Page 178
- Page 179
- Page 180
- Page 181
- Page 182
- Page 183
- Page 184
- Page 185
- Page 186
- Page 187
- Page 188
- Page 189
- Page 190
- Page 191
- Page 192