Web of Lies

Chapter 21 | Delayed Warning

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Mature Content warning for this chapter:

Vulgar Language, Violence, mentions of schizophrenia and Implied Death

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               It had been a year and overall, the girls were getting along just fine. Reagan became more relaxed with the group, Mimi seemed a tiny bit less paranoid, Tabbi was still making jokes, Cate was always wanting to procrastinate their witch hunts for anime, and Charlotte was still human.

                "April 3, 2011

                "It is about time that I write a summary to reflect on the past months. We have completely come to understand a lot of the magical girl world. We have easily been able to predict and destroy all witches in our city without an issue. With our team, it normally only takes a few minutes to complete the job and it seems that Tabbi's spirits somehow improve the magical stamina in the girls. This seems to lead to less grief seed usage per girl.

               "On another note, Mimi and Reagan.... They are kindhearted girls at their core and yet I still find myself not believing the words they have to say. Even after a year, it seems Reagan doesn't completely trust us. I am a bit concerned. As of recent, she hadn't been using her intense speed ability, even on request by Tabbi... Upon investigating, it seems her family is planning on moving elsewhere due to her father finding work in Washington. She has yet to bring this to the group.

                "However, even after a year of leading Kyubey on without intention of making a wish, he continues to stick around in hopes of my contract coming to light. I am never quite certain when he is to appear or not. It seems if I attempt to bring his vague responses to the other girls for questioning, he always seems to be near... You would think that in a year, I'd have an opportunity to bring it up... But instead, I can't... On top of this, I suspect that there's something awful to being a magical girl that we've yet to uncover. Tabbi has determined that witches come from familiars that have wandered off from their labyrinth, but if that was the only explanation, where did the first one come from? I have reason to believe that Kyubey is somehow behind it, but for what reason...? Upon asking him, the only explanation I have gotten in the last few months was the following: "Magical girls are born from wishes.... Witches are born for curses..." Can wishes not be tainted into curses? Is this perhaps it....? I have been sitting on this information for months and the more I think about it, the more I believe this is the case... But if this course is inevitable, would telling them their fate only end their lives sooner? And if Kyubey has the ability to grant wishes, what else can he do to Tabbi and Cate if I were to reveal my suspicions?"

                She stared at the page, defeated. This was a world she didn't have the answers for and no matter how often she theorized, she could never debate this with the other girls. She flipped through the many scribbled out pages of ideas and thoughts she had proven to be wrong. The only one that made sense was this last assumption.

                At that moment, Kyubey appeared in her window. Despite being on the outside, his voice was as clear as ever in her head. "Good evening, Charlotte."

                Charlotte promptly shut the book and put it back in the drawer before opening the window and letting the white creature in. "Good evening, Kyubey." She returned the greeting. "What brings you here?"

                "Tabbi and Cate have requested to meet with you at the parking garage. They wish to do so before Reagan and Mimi arrive."

                Charlotte bit her lip. Somehow, she knew something wasn't right... Something was going to happen tonight... but she was uncertain what. She followed Kyubey into the night.