Gambling is an Addiction

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I should have known that there must be a lie hidden within the letter. At the time, I didn't really know Dr. Winters' real motives. But I should have known that Priscilla would never come home. On late April, Priscilla already had her stuff packed, and I knew that she'd drop off Doodles to make sure that he's taken good care of.

"Well, this is goodbye, damn it, I still can't fucking believe that I am invited to test out a simulation." Priscilla scoffed.
"Well, that's good news. Hopefully, it'll be sanctuary for these incidents." Skeeter replied, "And look out for my brother for me."
"I won't let you down, damn it." Priscilla then walked over towards the front door, before Doodles ran over, his face looking happy, before he licked Priscilla. The golden retriever didn't know that once Priscilla left that door, she'd never return.

Priscilla had left that day, and we all awaited her return, but, after the one-month mark, we haven't seen Priscilla turn up our driveway. We haven't known what had happened to her until... I have heard the knocking on my door.

"Is anyone here?" Lydia asked.
"It's me, Dr. Winters, I'm here to discuss what happened to Priscilla." She replied.
"Well, are you sure you're going to be honest with me?" Lydia asked.
"I am a 100% sure." Gracie replied, "And like I always say, one way to find out, open the door."

Gracie entered my home, and I had Skeeter look after Doodles while she and I discussed matters about Priscilla’s whereabouts.

Gracie sat down on the recliner and told I, Lydia, "Well, are you ready for the truth?"
I nodded "yes" because I knew that I had the right to know what happened to my Housemate.
"Well, the truth may hurt, but Priscilla has been transformed into an object by a computer virus called MalloryWare.Exe. But Priscilla isn't the only one who's transformed, all but four of the participants have turned into objects and strange beings called algebraliens." Gracie sighed, "I'm sorry for your loss, I wish I could have stopped this virus from turning people into objects earlier, and maybe your friend will still be here today."
"And, you blame yourself for the transformations of innocent and not-so-innocent people?" Lydia asked.
Gracie nodded, knowing that she has failed as a potential savior of Deerville. "However, I have been working on a way to change people back into human beings."
"Wait, what?" Lydia asked.
"I have brought back the people who have disappeared back in 2017. If you come with me, then you'll find out." Gracie replied.
"Okay." Lydia answered.

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Back in the present...

"I have discovered that a woman named Willa has started all of this and deeply regrets her actions back in 2017." Lydia replied, "She also told me that she worked for a woman named Erinn Skaggs."
"Erinn Skaggs. I have heard stories about her getting severely bullied, and her taking her anger out on the entire town." Indigo replied.
"Not to mention that there were a list of disappearances back in 2013 as well." Valerie replied.
"How many times does Deerville has to go through this shit, how many times does it have to spread to other cities?" Lydia asked.
"Too many." Odessa replied.
"Well, I think that our friends and enemies are in danger, even ourselves are in danger." Lydia replied, "There's nothing we can do about what will happen in the outside world unless we get out of this hellscape, and stop those responsible for the disappearances. Willa was just following orders, but Erinn, and whoever else is above Willa, are the ones who are really responsible for this mess."
"But even if Erinn and her gang is taken down, there are other gangs with similar goals in mind that'll replace them." Valerie replied, "And sometimes, the said gang is worse than what Erinn's gang will ever be."
"You have a point, Val." Indigo added.
"Well, there is no way that there will ever be peace again." Valerie replied.
"What if it is possible for peace to happen though?" Odessa asked.

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