I remained crouched above my favorite thing in all existence. That is if you could pretend thiace even existed. This body of water when completely still appeared to be the clearest reflection I believed ever to know. 

When I looked into it I didn’t see my reflection so much as I saw my very self. The feeling was beyond the words “comforting” or “completing”. It was beyond any wanton desire or need. 

It was my very existence. I knew when looking into this reflection I did not need this image, I was this image. If I denied what it showed me then I denied myself.

You’d think knowing this I would of realised just who I was and what I needed to do. But things aren’t always so obvious nor straightforward. For someone who’d spent their youth burying their concept of self beneath a lifetime of lies it was now next to impossible to see the truth. For that to happen, an act of god was necessary...

In ignorance I might have conceded I’d known all my life I couldn’t be the thing I wanted most but ignorant words they were. I did not realize then that the thing I wanted most was not what I saw in this reflection. I was it already, from beginning to end, forever and always. What I truly wanted more than anything was for everyone else to see it in me as well.

As I stared into my reflections eyes, to the core of my soul, I felt a rush of life run down my spine chilling me in a cold warmth. Making my legs tremble as ripples of water began to radiate from those haunting eyes. 

I wondered if I’d remember this time. I wondered if this time, when I awoke, I’d be able to make a change for the better?

The world rippled out of existence into a pitch black nothingness with the exception of those eyes staring back at me. Once dark brown they began to meld into a deep blue, enchantingly blue. It’s gaze trying to peer into what only the pond could reveal.

The pristine comfort I’d felt in looking into the pond was gone now. Shook away by the invasive eyes of a predator. Made beautiful to fool the foolish and to cause the less than prepared to folly.

I never ventured to pretend the existence of magic in this world but those cursed eyes of the Lancasters’ had made me question my position a thousand times over.

That’s exact who I came to reveal as my eyes opened from my dream world. A dream world, or rather a dreamless sleep. I never had dreams I merely saw nothingness, I would fall asleep and then seemingly awake mere seconds later. 

Though in all reality hours may have passed me by. In this particular moment I awoke to the eyes of a predator, looking to pounce on an unsuspecting victim. I did not need to visually see it lick it’s lips in anticipation because I could see it all in his eyes. It was a deep blue ocean of deceit and self centered greed.

“It’s” name was Money Lancaster and he stood but inches in front of me. His elongated nose and gentleman barbell stash rocked back and forth, up and down, as I imagine his jackal like nature shook his body even when he was not snickering aloud.  

The beasts Thick blond eyebrow raised as my eyes met his. With it his larger than necessary mouth opened like a hyena, baring teeth whiter than first snow and ending in points. With his smile came a stench of colon obviously to mask the shit he intended to spew from the hole in his face.

“Oh, you’re awake princess.” Money Lancaster crooned, as an animalistic laugh tried to escape his throat but seemingly swallowed back down by the man’s endless gluttony for everything.

I narrowed my eyes as my vision came into focus. Money Lancaster, if I were to describe him was the devil incarnate. Well, that might be mean to the devil. I imagine he came to earth after the devil could no longer bare chewing on the filth.

Spitting him back onto this world in hopes of remission. It made sense, the man had the devil’s luck, but I imagine it was simply the devil looking to prolong the time before having to chew on his ass again.

The older man, in his late forties, hunched over in front of me with his hands on his sides. A finger tapping against his hip as if thinking of what to do now that I had awaken. I imagine most evil villains enjoyed when their original plan had been spoiled by chance. That they might be able to succeed in pure improvisation. As such I wonder what he was planning as of right now.

Chancing a moment to survey my surroundings I found myself laying on the bench of Tye’s Ford Ranger pickup truck. The seats smell of glove oil was almost calming enough for me to push the uneasy of being peered over by such an animal.

“What are you doing here?” I manage, my voice fluctuating between exasperation, annoyance, and grogginess. Complicated enough? Everything becomes more so when Money Lancaster is around so get used to it…

“What am I doing here? This is my house. I’m allowed to come and go as I please.” Money replied mockingly hurt. Hand raised to his chest. “By the way love, that’s no proper way for a young lady to address her elders.”

Again he referred to me as a girl, which I suppose should have triggered my worry the first time but it’d had slipped then. Raising myself to the rearview mirror I saw a most familiar image in front of me. That of Corin Orion, man, and not of Corin Orion girl whom I’d recently become intimately acquainted with. 

“Why do you look so sad buttercup?” Money spat with open enjoyment, “Disappointed to be of the lesser sex?”

I narrow my eyes as I turn to him. I’d kill this man if I didn’t care to go to prison. What am I saying I might still do it…

“Mr. Lancaster.” I state with controlled precision feeling the vein on my forehead twitch. “You haven’t told me why you’re here yet.”

“My my Corin, and here I thought you my favorite. Still upset about last time?” Money replies nonchalantly inspecting his fingers.

“And all the times before it but especially last time.”

“You should be thankful to me, I only meant to force you and my son to confront you’re unreasonable fear of heights.”

“You made us jump out of a crashing plane with no parachute…”

“You survived.”

“I died a little. At least the part of me that refused to kill you did.”

The madman just cackled in delight. Smirking he retorted in triumph “I’d forgotten you and my son have nine lives right?”

That’s it, not only did he try to kill me last time we saw each other but now he’s relating me to my feral enemy. I will not be made to relate to felines! Not now and not ever!

I pull myself to the driver side door and begin to push it open only to find it held shut by another face I didn’t want to see. Me and Tye had taken to calling Money’s personal assistant Jojo to the point where I’ve honestly forgotten his real name.

“Jojo let me go or I’m going to break your master’s nose.” I demand as I cock my leg back.

“Jojo, it’s okay, let him go back to my son.” Mr. Money spat out as he backed away from me and the truck. Fixing his bowtie and collar he continued on “I had come to tell you all the checks won't be coming for another two weeks. I ran into a rather poor investor and am currently~”

“You’re telling me you’re broke again right?” I interrupt him, surprise surprise, Money Lancaster ran into fortune nearly as often as he lost it. It came and went with the seasons.

“What I’m telling you and you’ll be telling all your roommates is that you’ll all have to come up with the mortgage on this place for the foreseeable future until I’ve re-established my financial ability to repay my contracts and promises.” Turning towards the door to the garage and motioning for his man servant to open it for him he continued over his shoulder.

“Mind you, our deal between the four of us is a promise and not a contract or legally binding thing. I repay you out of the kindness of my heart and decency as a human being.”

From there he straightened himself, thanked Jojo for opening the door and walked out.

Well that was awesome, I thought to myself. So basically Money just told me to tell everyone else and myself to sod off. Great.

Atleast, I’m back to normal and I think I know what the deal is now aswell.

Standing up I stretch a little and let loose a yawn. Dealing with Money was an exhausting thing after all and I’ve been exhausted since the moment I first woke up way earlier this morning.

The fact of the matter is that every time I’ve woken up I’ve change appearance. Well, appearance feels like an understatement. More so changed gender. Each time it’s happened I’ve been such a shit show as not to be able to think about it.

Now, even with that shitty confrontation with the devil’s even more evil twin brother, I’ve got some time to really think about this whole thing.

Not that there is much to think about. All I have to do is not go to sleep again. That should be easy. I mean once I stayed up a whole day with Locke waiting for the perfect opportunity to ambush this poacher in South Asia. I’m pretty confident I don’t actually need to sleep ever.

I mean, sleeping isn’t something you need to do, just something people do just because right?

Well it doesn’t matter, I will avoid sleeping like I avoid all my problems. The thought makes me giggle a little.

Exhaling I prepare myself for what’s next. Going back into my apartment and confronting the guys with the bad news. Why the hell did Money have to find me sleeping in the garage? How the fuck did he know I was going to be in here?

___________________________________________________________________________

Everyone seems to have taken the news awfully well. I mean, it’s not like we weren’t expecting the man to swindle us over. Tye’s father or not he’s a dirty unpredictable man. I’m just happy they didn’t decide to kill the messenger.

“Corin you do realize you left us with Gwen this morning right?” Tye calls out. Of course, that’s what he’s concerned about. As if the news from Money isn’t news at all. Well it’s not really…

“Oh gee, Gwen was here?” I feign

“Shuv it man, yeah she was here and she talked my fuckin’ ear off about how shitty of a son you are and how shitty of a best friend I am for letting you skip out on your mom’s wedding with her dad.” Tye was rolling his eyes while pretending to shoot himself in the head with his fingers.

“Yeah, I imagine she’s a bit peeved over it all.” I sighed as Locke and Brent shook their heads in agreement.

“A bit peeved huh? Understatement of the year award goes to Corin. Oh by the way, if you got down and dirty with your sister-in-law is that still a form of insest?”

I laugh at the absurdity of the idea while Locke is visibly upset by the notion.

“Corin isn’t interested in Gwen like that and neither is she.” He stated more to himself than any of us. We all just raise an eyebrow to the poor sod. He’s so inlove with my sister its just plain sick.

“Locke be careful with this unrequited love thing you’ve got going on with Corin’s sister. I don’t need some Romeo and Juliet scenario going down.” Tye replied, throwing an empty can of beer at Locke.

It was a curious statement. I mean, I’ve always been a tad bit protective of Gwen but now with it being a bit more justified I wonder how I’d feel about one of my friends, namely Locke, dating my sister?

Nope, can’t even imagine it. Pointless even to try.

“I’m not in love with Gwen.” Locke claimed as he caught said beer can and hurled it at Brent.

“...” is all the response we got from the giant. The can just bounced off his shoulder as if it were nothing more than a fly.

“Whats wrong with him?” I ask the group.

“The big baby claims she saw a ghost.” Tye answers as he flaps his arms with a newly open beer in his hands. The contents of which fly this way and that.

“Tye your beer you idiot. Clean it up.” Locke calls back annoyed.

I turn my attention to Brent who’s just sitting there like some sort of PTSD victim. Sadly a familiar look we’d come across around the world. It’d become easy enough to recognize now.

“Tye, common man, something obviously scared the crap out of him.” I finally replied after a measured look.

In response Tye chucks his beer at my face. I’m able to dodge it for the most part but that’s not the point.

“Gimme a break! Corin, I know it was you behind it all. While we were all busy unloading the furniture from the truck you were busy making this big idiot piss his pants.” Just throwing some paper towels on the floor he leaves it there and looks up to me again. “Was it before or after you banged that nameless chick in the back alley? Standards man I mean really.”

I’ve got the beer in my hand now and am chucking it back at Tye. The spray of beer splashing outward to hit everyone else in the room. I was mad until I heard the shrieks and grunts coming from Locke and Brent.

“Dude!”

“Could you two stop throwing open beers around the room!”

“Hrrmph!”

I just start laughing. In the end I’d rather them think I’m having sex with my alter ego than them suspecting it’s actually me. This is probably the best case scenario right now. May as well ride it out.

“Still. There is the matter of coming up with the house’s mortgage.” Locke says attempting to reign back in the conversation.

“Shit, I wasn’t planning on working with my school schedule. I’ve got like 18 credits man and in business. I don’t think I’ll have the time.” Tye replied.

“I’ve not declared a major yet but I also have a bit of a heavier schedule. Trying to knock out my prerequs as quickly as possible.” Locke shakes his head in agreement.

Thinking now about my own schedule. I’ve also got 18 credits and it’s a bit math heavy. I’m planning on going to school for a dual major in engineering degrees so obviously math is going to be a major component.

“I’ve got 18 credits too and a majority of the classes are math.” I add into the mix.

Brent just grunts and nods and flails his hands a little. I could understand only half of it all. He’s got a light schedule but is doing something?

“The big guy’s got a light schedule but it’s because he’s doing volunteer work teaching sign language.” Tye says as if what Brent had just said and done was obvious. I nor Locke have any idea how to two could so easily understand one another. Especially when Brent refused to use words. “He’s already pledged his time yesterday morning and can’t back out anymore.”

“So basically, we’re screwed right?” I throw out there.

“No, it just means you’re going to have to pull those panties of yours up and grind it out for a bit.” Tye replies in a mock you voice.

“Careful Tye, You pull those thong straps too high and everyone will know what you’re wearing.” I shoot back.

“I’m proud of my man thong and I hope everyone knows what that I wear them!” He proclaims as he pulls his pants down to indeed reveal a man thong. 

We all groan and throw whatever we can at the gyrating imbecille before us. I guess it is my own fault, you don’t challenge Tye Lancaster. To turn down a challenge no matter how mundane or stupid is toxic to him. Possibly even fatal.

“Hey ou fools! Don’t waste good beer!”

“Shut up you hypocrite!”

Obstacle Seven. Trials