Mommy Gacha Failed (3)

In the director's office, Mama Gail opened her mouth.

"Hoho, Dodo. Aren't you excited to go to your new home?"

"Huh? Am I getting adopted?"

"Oh my, playing dumb! You're so thrilled it's like a dream, aren't you?"

Rather than joy, a vague unease dominated his feelings. Suddenly?

Mama Gail continued her explanation.

"Our Dodo, the courage you showed recently...! And the initiative to achieve results like that! Mama was so moved... That's why I chose you as this year's child."

"Ah, I see... Thank you!"

"Yes, yes, our Dodo gets special meals starting today!"

"Wow!!! Thank you!! Wow!!!"

He instinctively let out a cheer, but a chill of dissonance lingered in the corner of his mind. Why? There was no such thing as kindness without a price. He could feel her sticky gaze appraising him like merchandise.

Calming his heart, he mentioned his friend's contribution as well.

"Ah, but Roni helped catch it too."

As the skill activated, she began sending him looks like she adored him to death.

"Hoho, Dodo has such a kind heart too! Roni did well, but... she's a year younger, isn't she? There'll be another chance later."

The director was firm. Not wanting to ruin the good atmosphere unnecessarily, he nodded.

Then came mealtime. The special meal was none other than a whole rabbit.

Envious stares poured in, but no child dared to eye my food.

Because Mama Gail had warned them in advance. The other children's gazes were already irrelevant.

The flavor was on another level from the meat scraps in the slop. Juicy juices burst between his teeth. The saying "so good it brings tears" wasn't a lie. And they were giving him two meals a day, morning and evening—this luxurious life was starting to worry him.

* * *

"Hey, eat this." I handed Roni the half-rabbit I'd hidden away.

Roni looked more flustered than grateful.

"If we get caught, won't the adoption get canceled...?"

"Then eat it alone and don't share with the others."

"Me... alone? Really? Okay...!"

Roni bowed her head deeply, dragging her feet in gratitude. What was a good friend if not this?

"Man, I lucked out with my buddy... Ahem... Living the high life, huh?"

"Yeah. Respect me more."

Getting adopted alone didn't sit entirely right with me. Perhaps sensing my mixed feelings, Roni poked my side first.

"Heh... Lighten up, Dodo. We'll meet outside. A year is bearable."

"True."

In just over a month, we'd grown close.

"Have fun gathering."

"Thanks for the rabbit meat, seriously."

"Eat it all yourself, okay?"

"Hng..."

With a weird hum, Roni vanished. Consistently hilarious kid.

Soaking in warm water was a luxury unimaginable just days ago. His body felt ecstatic, but his mind sharpened instead.

The faint voices of starving kids clutching their bellies as they headed out to gather drifted in from outside the window. The director now seemed intent on isolating him from the orphanage framework entirely. He even got his own bed—decorated with flowers—instead of the communal dorm, sleeping more comfortably than ever.

Mama Gail went overboard, making sure he avoided the other kids and even reciting prayers at night.

...Wasn't this a bit much?

Curious about why she was putting so much effort into the adoption, he asked.

Hmm. He'd been thrilled at first, but the dissonance grew.

Why treat a sub-livestock orphan like a beloved son? If he'd been a model kid, maybe, but knowing the psycho director's true nature made it unsettling. There was definitely something calculated...

By day 5, a chilling sensation crawled up his spine.

Finally, he secretly called Roni over at night for a talk.

"Hey, you smell nice."

"This is serious, so listen up."

"What's up, getting sappy 'cause you're leaving? Hehe..."

Annoyed, he lightly smacked her head and continued.

"Kids got adopted before, right?"

"Ow...! Yeah, one a year or so."

"Am I getting sold into slavery or something?"

"What? Pfft...!"

Roni, who'd started to get serious, burst into laughter at my words.

"Pfheheh... Oh man! My sides! You serious, Dodo? Hngh..."

"Don't laugh. I'm serious."

"Listen, why would Mama bother selling an older kid like you instead of ditching the little ones? Older ones obey better and fetch more anyway."

It made sense. Roni's logic checked out. Yeah, maybe I was overthinking.

But the unease lingered.

"Then why the sudden niceness?"

"Hehe, not sure exactly, but maybe so you don't badmouth her adoptive family later?"

"Hmm... Maybe?"

Doubts remained, but it eased his mind. If she planned to sell him as a slave, why bother with courage or contributions?

"Hey, Dodo, just go with it. Don't be a wuss, kid."

"Hey! I'm being cautious."

I patted Roni's lower back in thanks.

"...!"

"Ask for more food too. Why so scrawny?"

"Hah! Must be 'cause you bulked up like a pig lately."

She glared curtly. This Roni punk? Her tone had thorns. She'd poked my side endlessly, but a light butt pat and she got pissy.

...Two days later, adoption day arrived, and farewell time loomed.

"Hey, Dodo."

A heavier tone than usual.

"Yeah, spill it."

"Well... Actually..."

Roni hesitated, like she was about to spill a secret.

"Nah. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Tell you in a year when we meet... Hehe, better that way."

"You little shit?"

She knew exactly how to piss someone off. Namely...

"Take care of yourself."

"Lame, dude."

For the last time, he forgave her specially. They bumped fists, smiled plainly, and parted.

Without Roni, he might not have adapted, gotten beaten to death stealing rabbit meat. Grateful, but leaving alone felt guilty. Though unspoken, Roni's eyes seemed a bit misty too.

At sunset, after goodbyes, he headed to Mama Gail.

"Let's go to your new family. Hoho."

"Yes, Mama."

Just a week of good food and he'd grown attached? Human hearts were sly. Memories of starvation and beatings already faded. Now liberated from this shithole. Refreshing yet bittersweet.

As he walked with Mama Gail, dusk deepened. The deeper into the forest, the stranger the silence. No chirping birds, no rustling insects—like the whole woods held its breath in tension.

Mama Gail's smile was the same, but her eyes held no feigned warmth. Unease wrapped his body.

"Hoho, we're almost there, Dodo. Hang in a bit longer?"

"Yes, Mama."

As he opened his mouth to ask, she spoke first. Just before sunset, they reached a stone building. More temple than house, exuding solemn, eerie aura.

"Mama Gail, family lives here?"

An awful dissonance hit. Stepping inside flooded him with dread. Dragged into depths. Far from cozy.

Truth be told, unease started at departure. Families usually came to the orphanage, right? Pieces fit: suspicion became certainty. This bitch is selling me.

Should've known when she oiled him up. He gripped the hidden pocket knife in his chest.

Deeper in, the mood grew grim. Neither spoke. Only heels clicked.

At a massive stone door, Mama Gail finally spoke.

"We're here. Your family's inside. Hoho."

"Why here, so remote?"

"Best to see for yourself, Dodo."

"Then open the door?"

Even openly wary, her demeanor unchanged. Eyes locked in a staring contest... She spoke first.

"Of course! Our Dodo's precious family! Hohoho!"

A room full of candles. The rushing scent wasn't mere incense—heavy, sweet, dusty ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like old earth. It seeped into lungs, softly numbing brain folds. Mental barriers melted.

Truth. Inflowing truths enlightened dark cognition. Now he saw. Ah... Family is built. Ah... Aah... That's what it meant.

Square humans, squares on squares. Look. Eyes. Dozens gazing from dark, jewels gleaming. Collective. Unblinking. One massive gaze caressing him. Singing. No sound, yet.

God didn't mold us from clay. Aah... We glued bone and skin with our warmth. Become one. Eternal. Perfect, inseparable form. Love. Union. Ultimate collective.

A beautiful rectangular space of flesh, prepared for him. Entranced, his feet moved. Surely warm.

"Hnggh...!"

Warm liquid dripped from his nose. Blood. What the...?

Only then did he realize his head was pressed into the human structure. A rectangular gap between living human bricks. A space requiring twisted joints and crushed limbs.

Suddenly, bile surged up his throat. He retched. Couldn't comprehend the him from moments ago shoving his head in.

Part of his mind already absorbed by the wall, rotting away.

"Hoho, Dodo? Something wrong?"

Smiling without a blink. Crazy bitch.

Mama Gail approached closer.

"Scent too weak? Never happened before? Hohoho!"

As he pulled his head from the human bricks, she started shoving it back in herself.

"Go in! Dodo! Become true family!"

"You... crazy bitch!"

Swiftly drawing the hidden pocket knife, he thrust it in a surprise attack. Unpleasant handfeel. Her sneering face twisted.

"Kyaak!! My eye! My eye!"

Didn't expect regained consciousness, huh? He'd turned the fully off-guard director into a cyclops.

Mama Gail thrashed, shoving him away and rolling on the floor.

"Kgh...!"

"Grgh! Dodo!!!"

Weight difference sent him flying. Couldn't retrieve the knife lodged in her eye.

Out of options, he bolted for the exit.

"Stop! Dodo!! Become family!!"

"You go in, you psycho bitch!"

Consciousness foggy like mist, but he ran with every ounce of strength.

Distance from the injured Mama Gail grew.

"Hah... Huff..."

Running nonstop, breath to his limit. Staggering, but a bit farther. Just a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bit more. All his strength.

Survived. Thought he'd escaped that lunatic—right then.

- Despair sniffed out hope like a beast and came calling.

"Kraaagh... Aaaah!!!"

Body tearing apart in agony, he rolled on the ground. It hurts! So much!!

Flopping like a bug, seeking escape from pain. Toward where he'd fled from Mama Gail. Instinctively wriggling back.

Slowly. Pain ebbed.

"Hoo... Hooo..."

Blood-tears blurred vision red. Horrific tearing from organs inward. Never again.

The status window mocked him. Triggering the curse at the worst moment.

The ??? condition revealed itself only after churning his guts. Head foggy, metallic blood taste in mouth.

He and Mama Gail were inseparably bound. A fateful evil tie from the start.

Despair buckled his legs.

"Fuckin' hell..."