July 14, 2026: Entry #3089 It had been a little over a week since the Delancy Gang’s HQ had gone up in flames. Four casualties, none of which had been the Delacny Brothers themselves. Current Location: Unknown. Activity: Low, most likely regrouping and assessing their remaining assets. As for the “thing” origins remain unknown. Abilities: Unknown. Age: Unknown. Basically, everything is unknown except one thing. It loves head pats.

Samantha looked up from her journal at the “thing” which she had simply started calling “ET”. ET was currently looking through one of her romantic novels, the newest of the Bridgerton books, “Queen Charlotte”. She didn’t know they could read English, or maybe they were just trying to mimic her from last night. She didn’t have a long time to uncover the mysteries of ET though. She had work in less than 30 minutes, and the library waited for no one. She closed her journal and put it in her room before grabbing her purse and heels.

“I’m going to work,” she said to her guest. “Remember to stay here unless you absolutely have to.”

She had just been speaking to ET normally, giving them the benefit of the doubt that they understood what she was saying to some extent. She left for the day at 8:45 and returned at 6:15 for dinner. Afterwards, she would go out for her extra hours as Onyx, hunting down the Delancy Brothers, or being the biggest thorn in their side. So far, ET had adapted to this routine, and stayed inside.

The workday passed uneventfully, but Samantha honestly enjoyed her work at the library. She returned home to find ET still on the couch, now reading through Pride and Prejudice. She looked at the pile of books, all the Bridgerton books, at their side. Had they read all of these? She decided not to bring attention to it and began to cook dinner. She ate quickly before she suited up. Before she stepped out the door, ET grabbed her arm.

They looked worried. She smiled confidently, patting their cheek.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” she reassured before she slipped out.

She hadn’t meant to lie. The Delancy Brother found her, and got the jump on her. She was now tied to a metal chair in some broken down warehouse by the docks. She had been beaten within an inch of her life, but through the haze of pain and blood, all she could focus on was they knew her face now. Her cover had been blown. Then again, it might not even matter. It sounded like they were going to drop her into the harbor tied to the chair.

They were speaking to her, most likely taunting. Her last act of defiance was spitting blood into their faces. Darkness was crawling from the edges of her vision when she saw something shift in the shadows. She barely processed it when the Delancy Brother’s lackeys began to be dragged into the shadows. She watched as one by one, the lackeys disappeared, then a fast something hit the Delancy Brothers down. Then ET appeared in front of her.

They held her face like she was the most important person in the world before getting the chains unlocked. Sam fell into their waiting arms. She felt them pick her up bridal style and managed a weak chuckle.

“Y…You’ve been readin’ t…too many of those novels,” she managed to comment, her words slurred. “Actin’ like I’m a fucking damsel or somethin’...”

Her words trailed off as her body finally succumbed to the strain and wounds. Her head fell against {{user}}’s shoulder, her broken mask still on her face.