Chapter 20: Defamation
My situation had changed dramatically. With Hutch's mother incapacitated and out of the picture, I suddenly discovered an area I'd never thought I'd venture into. The idea of being involved with this line of work had never crossed my mind, but the potential financial gains were undeniable. It was essential to tread carefully and ensure I remained unnoticed.
Having delved into the details, I discovered that women in this line of work made an average of a few hundred dollars an hour. While this was slightly lower than I had anticipated, the catch was that the entire amount would come directly to me.
Night had fallen, and the day's events seemed to have taken a toll on Hutch's mother. She was deeply asleep, a result of the stress and fatigue she had experienced.
Throughout the night, I managed to accumulate 5,000 points from the mission I had undertaken. Perhaps I was overanalyzing, but the mission seemed to hint at a particular path for me.
Had I realized this earlier, I might have approached a more compliant family that wouldn't resist as much. Yet, even though I thought that I was aware that the real reason I hadn't acted sooner was the time I needed to adapt and get accustomed to this new world,
I had to keep Hutch's mother busy with the menial tasks. He'd surely grow anxious if she didn't visit Hutch on her day off.
As I was contemplating this, the piece I had been waiting for fell into place. It was time to execute my plan. The early morning light began to filter in, a sign that the world outside was beginning to stir. I needed to make the most of this time.
I purchased a photocopying machine and started printing countless images. Once I had a sufficient number of photos, I put on a mask and set out to execute my plan.
Arriving at the hospital, I made sure to post those images wherever I could find a spot for them.
I plastered the photos all over the exterior and interior of the hospital. Whenever someone looked at my images, I could see my point tally shooting up. Within minutes, I was racking up more points than I ever anticipated.
The allure of even more points was tempting, and for a moment, I considered plastering the school with these photos. However, the risk of encountering powerful adversaries there made me rethink that idea. It wasn't worth the potential danger.
I posted gay photos of Hutch taking it up the ass. The photoshopper did a great job, and the person even added a bonus of Hutch sucking on a cock. If I were to observe it carefully, which I didn't, you wouldn't be able to tell if it was photoshopped.
Hutch being in the hospital would surely get the attention of both doctors and nurses. I hope a gay doctor will sexually harass him.
With the gay photos posted, I ran away from the sight. It didn't take long before I gained a grand total of 10,000 points.
I finally had enough points to buy the skill I had been eyeing. Just like that, my accumulated points vanished.
The skill, Nightmare Induction, would let me inflict anyone with constant nightmares whenever I chose. It's basically a curse that could drive someone mad, even in their sleep.
The skill had its limitations; I could only focus on one individual at a time. But for now, one was all I needed. Hutch had been too comfortable during my absence, and it was about time to shake things up. Breaking him mentally was my aim.
I returned to the hospital, finding Hutch isolated and slumbering. With the day still young, I felt it was the ideal moment to unleash the curse on him.
Seeing the photos I had posted, a smirk crept on my face. I still had a few points remaining from my recent acquisition.
Whipping out a permanent marker, I doodled a dick image on his cheek. It was a bit astonishing that Hutch could still be in a deep sleep amidst all this commotion. But, hey, I wasn't going to complain. It just made my job easier.
After completing my task at the hospital, I decided to check on Hutch's mother, Lauraica. When I returned, I found Lauraica still sleeping. I wasn't sure what to do next. I could go on and continue tormenting Hutch, but it didn't feel like the right moment.
Over the last couple of days, I had been so engrossed in my mission that I overlooked my other responsibilities.
I had initially planned to train Corey further, but time slipped away. Fortunately, Jessica didn't approach me for any debt collections, or I would've had to put her off in my quest for vengeance. With time on my hands, I patiently waited for Lauraica to awaken.
~
[Third-Person POV]
The morning was anything but ordinary for Hutch. The marker drawings on his face made him appear utterly absurd. When a nurse came in to attend to him, she carefully cleaned his face, trying hard not to make direct eye contact.
The photos that had been circulated were clearly imprinted in her mind. Every time she laid eyes on him, her cheeks would flush a deep shade of red, those images replaying in her mind, making her interactions with him all the more awkward.
Merissa had been Hutch's primary nurse since his admission. Over the span of these two days, they had established a decent rapport, and Hutch felt a certain comfort in her presence.
"Is everything okay, Merissa?" Hutch asked, sensing something amiss. Completely unaware of the situation outside, he relied on Merissa for updates and news about his progress and the outside world. The question lingered in the air, awaiting her response.
"..." Merissa remained silent, unsure of how to proceed.
"Hutch, be honest with me. Did you make an enemy out of somebody?" Merissa wondered. She found it peculiar that only Hutch was targeted, but if he had indeed angered someone, it would make sense for him to be slandered in such a manner.
"Yes, that's the reason I'm here." Hutch hesitated but finally shared the truth with her.
Returning after a brief moment, Merissa held out a photograph to him. It was the fabricated picture Finn had spread. As Hutch looked at the image, anger surged within him.
"FIN!!!" His anger was so palpable that his scream echoed throughout the hospital, reaching nearly every ear. Such intense reactions were not uncommon in their supernatural realm.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone