CHAPTER 1 — “A House That Breathes Normally”

Morning in the Fantome household arrived like a contradiction.

Soft light filtered through tall gothic windows, brushing against black marble floors and antique furniture that looked like it belonged in a mausoleum rather than a home. The air smelled faintly of tea leaves, gun oil… and something herbal that was probably alive five minutes ago.

It was quiet.

Peaceful.

Almost normal.

Stephanie

Stephanie stood in the kitchen, sleeves rolled just enough to suggest effort but not enough to admit it. A kettle hummed softly as she poured tea into porcelain cups—each one placed with precise, almost ritualistic care.

This was her version of affection.

Unspoken. Unseen.

But always there.

“You’re brooding louder than usual,” Tara said from the table without looking up.

Stephanie didn’t react. “You’re dissecting something at breakfast again.”

“It’s plant-based.”

A pause.

“…Mostly.”

Stephanie slid a cup toward her anyway.

Tara

Tara Fantome sat cross-legged on her chair, tablet glowing faintly as it displayed a rotating 3D model of something that should not have been rotating.

“Did you know,” she began casually, “if you hybridize certain parasitic vines with neural tissue—”

“Don’t,” Gage said flatly.

Tara smiled faintly. “You never let me finish my fun facts.”

“That’s because they’re not fun.”

“They are for me.”

She took a sip of tea, eyes drifting to the window.

“I like mornings,” she added. “Less noise from the living.”

Gage

Gage leaned against the counter, already dressed, already prepared—like the day had to catch up to him.

His rifle sat disassembled on the table beside him. Cleaning it wasn’t necessary.

But routine mattered.

Control mattered.

“You have school,” Stephanie reminded him.

“I know.”

“You skipped twice this week.”

“I didn’t skip. I relocated.”

Stephanie gave him a look.

Gage sighed. “I’ll go.”

Kari

The fridge door slammed open.

“Why is there nothing edible?” Kari complained, staring into a fully stocked refrigerator like it had personally betrayed her.

“There’s food,” Tara said.

“There’s ingredients.”

Kari grabbed something wrapped in foil, sniffed it, and immediately put it back.

“Nope. That’s either yours or a crime.”

“It can be both,” Tara said helpfully.

Kari rolled her eyes, then spotted the plate Stephanie had set aside.

She grinned. “Oh, you do love us.”

“I tolerate you,” Stephanie replied calmly.

“Same thing.”

Diego

Diego entered last—hesitant, like he still wasn’t sure where he fit in this rhythm.

“Morning,” he said.

Kari waved. Gage nodded. Tara lifted her cup slightly.

Stephanie had already placed a cup for him.

He noticed.

“…Thanks.”

“Drink it before it gets cold,” she said.

He sat down, glancing around the room.

Last night, they had erased people from existence.

Now—

Kari was arguing with the toaster.

“This thing is judging me.”

“It’s a toaster,” Gage said.

“It knows.”

—this was happening.

Diego exhaled quietly.

“I think I like this part more.”

A Knock at the Door

Three sharp knocks.

Everyone paused.

Not alarmed.

Just… attentive.

Kari moved first, already halfway to the door before anyone said anything.

She opened it—

—and immediately lit up.

“Jenny.”

Jenny

Jenny Blackwood stood there, looking exactly like she didn’t belong anywhere dangerous.

Neat uniform. Soft expression. Slightly hunched posture.

A book clutched to her chest.

“Hi,” she said quietly.

Then she stepped inside—

—and the air shifted.

Not visibly.

But something about her changed.

Her eyes sharpened just slightly.

Her posture straightened.

Like a switch had flipped from civilian to something else entirely.

Stephanie noticed, of course.

She always did.

“You’re early,” Stephanie said.

Jenny smiled faintly. “Couldn’t sleep.”

Kari slung an arm around her. “Nightmares or excitement?”

Jenny’s smile turned just a bit mischievous.

“Both.”

Domestic Chaos

Within minutes, the house felt… fuller.

Jenny and Stephanie sat together, quietly discussing something in low voices—strategy? literature? it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began.

Kari dragged Jenny into the kitchen, insisting she “try something that isn’t cursed.”

Tara watched Jenny with quiet interest.

“You’re hiding something,” Tara said suddenly.

Jenny blinked. “I always am.”

Tara smiled.

“Good.”

Michele (Call)

Stephanie’s phone buzzed.

She answered immediately.

“Yes.”

Michele’s voice came through—smooth, composed, but warm underneath.

“Good morning, children.”

“We’re not children,” Kari called out.

“You are when you forget to sleep,” Michele replied.

Kari paused. “…Okay, that’s fair.”

Michele continued, “No assignments today. Consider it… recovery time.”

“That sounds suspicious,” Gage said.

“It’s called balance,” Michele replied. “Try it sometime.”

A brief pause.

“And Stephanie?”

“Yes.”

“Take them out. Do something normal.”

Stephanie looked around the room.

At the tea.

At the quiet.

At her family.

“…Define normal.”

Michele chuckled softly.

“You’ll figure it out.”

The call ended.

After

Silence settled again—but lighter this time.

Kari immediately perked up. “We’re going out.”

“We’re not—” Gage started.

“We are,” Kari said firmly.

Tara tilted her head. “A field study could be interesting.”

Diego looked unsure. “Like… where?”

All eyes turned to Stephanie.

She sighed, setting her cup down.

“…Fine.”

Kari grinned like she’d just won something.

Jenny leaned slightly toward Stephanie, voice soft.

“This should be fun.”

Stephanie glanced at her.

“…We’ll see.”

But for just a second—

her expression softened.

End Scene

Outside, the city still rotted.

Inside, they argued about where to go.

Mall?

Cafe?

Arcade?

Surveillance opportunities?

“Not everything is a mission,” Diego said.

Stephanie looked at him.

Then, after a pause—

“…Today, it isn’t.”

And somehow, that made it feel more dangerous than anything else.

End of Chapter 1