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Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Chapter 3.8: Dear Diary, an Unknown Affliction

1
Dear Diary, when I last left off, I believe I was screaming in fright at the glowing eyes facing me in the creepy cave. During my mindless shrieking, Dax tried to hush me and Mr. Glowing-Eyes actually covered his ears and swore under his breath.
When I saw this human action, my screaming abruptly stopped. Firstly, Dax wasn’t in the least scared, and secondly, what kind of monster who is about to kill or eat you, covers their ears when the person they’re about to kill or eat starts putting up a frantic fuss? Of course, I don’t have any real idea how this scenario goes, I’m just trying to explain where my mind was at the time.
“What a fright!” Glowing-Eyes exclaimed, his voice a deep, commanding, baritone that echoed off of the stony cave walls.
I scared you?” I yelled, my fingers pumping into fists at my sides. “That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard!”
“Blue, don’t be rude… he’s sensitive,” Dax whispered in my direction as he stood between Mr. Glowing-Eyes and myself.
“I can hear your whispering very well,” Glowing-Eyes said, clearly taking offense to Dax’s description of him.
“And, I told you not to look in his eyes.”
2
Quickly, I looked down at my feet as Dax faced Mr. Sensitive.
“I told you that’s an old wives’ tale. Looking into my eyes does nothing except scare people.”
Was he seriously complaining?
“Better safe than sorry,” Dax reasoned.
This had gone on long enough. Forgetting my frayed nerves, I demanded, “Dax, why are we here and who in the world is this?”
As I looked up, his eyes automatically caught mine again. While I couldn’t place him, he did seem vaguely familiar.
“Do you know me?” he asked, looking fully at me as if he was willing me to know something I didn’t.
Letting out an exasperated sigh, I said, “No, of course not. I’ve never seen you in my life. What is this about?”
After the staring contest continued for a few more minutes, he made a “hmph” noise and turned back to Dax. “She’s much further behind than I thought she would be. This family is so frustratingly obtuse.”
“Listen here – ” I began, but Dax turned to look at me, his big brown doe eyes imploring me to be patient. Something in his beautiful face made me step back to see what would happen.
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“This cloak and dagger stuff isn’t for Blue. In fact, it’s only kind of fun if you’re a kid,” Dax told him with an easy, lowered tone. “I did what you asked because you’re my friend. But now you need to explain to the both of us what it is that’s going on.”
My jaw gaped just a little as I listened. These two unlikely friends had plotted to bring me to this cave, and for what?
“Very well.”
I involuntarily took a step backward as Mr. Glowing-Eyes turned his attention to me. “I am your great-uncle Mango.”
I stupidly stood there, my mouth now completely slack, my heart picking up its pace. “Dax, whatever he’s told you is a lie. My great-uncle Mango died when my dad was a toddler!”
Dax quickly caught my hand before I could flee from them and he held me firmly until I stopped struggling. As I calmed down, he loosened his grip completely and stroked my hand gently before finally letting go. “He isn’t lying, I promise. I know it sounds crazy, but you saw the money trees outside. This is a strange place and it didn’t get strange until he came here. Please listen to him. It’s more important than you can even imagine.”
“I really don’t see how you can be Mango. Not only was he presumed dead after the meteor hit the house, you’re obviously too young to be him.”
“I know why you are skeptical,” he said, his voice still bouncing off the hard walls. “But you must listen to me. The meteor did hit the house, that’s true. And I was presumed dead, but it was by my design that it worked out that way.”
“Why do I feel as if you’re still beginning in the middle instead of at the start?” I said, putting a hand to my head. Was I feverish? Having a terrible nightmare? You know, the kind where you absolutely think it’s so real that when you wake up, you have to give yourself a reality check?
“You’re not feverish and you’re not dreaming,” he firmly said.
I can’t even describe how often my jaw dropped during this conversation. “How – ”
” – I have certain psychic abilities,” he murmured.
3
“You’re not very good at this, Mango. Tell her the part you told me about the scientists first,” Dax suggested as if what was happening was the most normal thing in the world.
“Yes, yes, good idea.”
The dramatic way he cleared his throat just then cued me in that this was going to be a really long story and I didn’t know if my mind could handle it. For Dax’s sake, I tried to hang on.
“Many years ago, before your father was born, I was an up and coming professional athlete; baseball, to be exact. I was extremely strong and healthy and my future looked very promising. I had just made it to the big leagues and had moved to Storybrook with your great-aunt Keniesha and your grandparents when I was approached by a group of scientists from the area. They had seen how powerful my throws were and so they said they needed someone like me. I was skeptical that they needed precisely me as there were many good athletes on the team. It was then that they told me about your grandmother’s father Prescott Day. Did you know that he was a scientist?”
Having read both my grandmother’s and father’s journals, I knew this very well. “My great-grandfather came up with the vaccine that eradicated Fading Finger Disease.”
Mango smiled but instead of looking happy or pleased, his glowing eyes and pale skin made him look almost ghoulish and deranged. “Yes! Good, you know about that, then. That’s a start!”
“Keep going, you’re doing great.”
“Why thank you, Dax.” His mouth widened into that ghastly smile again, causing me to cringe. “Where was I? Oh yes! The scientists told me about your great-grandfather’s accomplishments and told me this was a way I could contribute to the family and society. They were very close to finding a vaccine for Deathbell Disorder and they said they needed my help very badly because of something to do with my strength and type of blood I had. I really didn’t understand the details at the time.”
Deathbell Disorder! Good gravy, that was serious stuff! It was a rare disorder, but anyone infected with it had terrible symptoms. I’d read about an outbreak once in a remote village where almost all of the residents had succumbed and died.
“I’ve read about that disorder,” I said, speaking hurriedly. “It causes receding gums, thinning of the skin, headaches, and the sensation of hearing bells.” In fact, the poor afflicted person heard bells that were so loud, they often went insane before dying.
“Yes, exactly,” Mango said softly as if he was thinking deeply. “The scientists promised  me I would move up in the ranks faster and that I would be profoundly rich if I cooperated with them. I wasn’t very comfortable with the situation because the contract demanded that I could not tell anyone about this. Keniesha and I had never kept anything from each other… until then.”
His madly glowing eyes peered into the distance, taking him into the past. I could imagine what Aunt Keniesha looked like back then as I’d seen many pictures. She’d been so beautiful and so in love with Mango. In my mind, I saw her with their twin daughters, smiling and cooing at them in her arms, completely unaware of the decision he was about to make.
“The scientists did not tell me everything involved, of course, but I knew it would mean they would be doing some type of experiments on me. But, if it meant I could be the pro-ball player I had always wanted to be and able to provide well for my family, I thought I should do it.”
4
“But, I gather, that was a mistake,” I said.
Suddenly, Mango’s eyes rolled back, then forward again, his eyelids only partly open. His entire body began to tremble and then shake and I was afraid he might fall over. As I stepped forward, Dax touched my arm and shook his head.
“Don’t touch him when he’s like this.”
“But… what’s happening? Is it a seizure?”
“No. I don’t know what you would call it, but he’s connected to someone.”
“What?” I asked, my voice a hushed whisper.
“Connected with someone – like, he’s not here anymore, mentally, I mean. This happens sometimes when there is something he needs to know.”
“I wish you would all stop talking in riddles!”
“I don’t know much more than that, honestly,” he said.
“Well, try to explain what you do know then.”
“All right, all right,” he answered, seeing my immense agitation.
“What I know is that when I saw the note you got, I was very certain it had come from Mango.”
“Well, how did it get all the way to my school? It’s so far away.”
“Mango says he can will himself to other locations. He can look normal if he concentrates and he can even go places and be right in front of people and make it so they don’t even see him.”
“And you believe all of this?”
“Money trees,” he said with a shrug.
He had a point. I’d never believed in such a thing as money trees until I actually saw them.
5
Suddenly, Mango took a deep, heaving breath and staggered forward a few steps.
“What happened?” I breathed, waiting for his response, every fiber of my being on edge, waiting for the crazy answer I was sure was coming.
Folding one arm over his stomach and putting a hand to his face, he mumbled, “It’s difficult for me to talk after an episode like this. You must go now. I will see you again another time. Soon. Come back soon, there isn’t much time left now.”
Wanting to shake him and scream, I yelled, “How can you just send me away now? Haven’t you wanted me to come here for a long time now?”
Shuddering at my raised voice, he said, “Well, you weren’t my first choice. As I said, your family is quite obtuse.”
“Ahhhh, you just can’t imagine how frustrating this is!”
6
“Yes. I can.”
His voice was somber now and all at once, I could imagine all of the things he’d been through that I didn’t have any inkling of. If he’d been alive all this time but for some reason, couldn’t be near his family, he must have been utterly devastated.
“I’m sorry, Uncle Mango,” I said, touching his arm.
When I touched him, he jerked back as if I had burned him. Glaring crazily at me with those terrifying, glowing eyes, he bellowed, “Go, now!”
7
Without another thought, I turned on my heel and ran as fast as my exhausted legs would carry me away from that damp, cold place, his voice still roaring in my head. When my feet were finally skimming across grass and earth again and I was breathing fresh air, I kept right on going, passing the money trees on the way.
“Blue! Wait!” I heard Dax call, but I didn’t stop.
8
Suddenly, I came out of the woods, my feet sinking into cool sand. I tried to continue running, but it was harder on the sand and my breath was coming in ragged heaves. With every step, my legs felt heavier and heavier. Abruptly, I stopped my frightened running and as I turned, my hands on my knees to catch my breath, Dax came barreling out of the woods and smacked right into me, knocking me to the ground.
We landed with a solid thud and the air was squeezed from my lungs. As I gasped for air, I realized Dax was lying haphazardly on top of me.
In the movies, we would have fallen, not quite this hard, but gracefully. When he realized he was on top of me, his face near mine, he would kiss me. But, Dax had never been to the movies so this was anything but a classic cinematic moment.
“I’m so sorry,” Dax said, absolutely horrified. “Are you hurt? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“No – ”
And then he began to cough and hack uncontrollably, spitting sand from his mouth. “So – sorry,” he tried to continue.
Before I could stop it, a giggle erupted from my throat and then I was laughing full force. This was just so dang comical. Then he was laughing with me.
9
Moving to a more comfortable position, he threw his arm around me, his thumb caressing my cheek once in a while, his face near mine.
“Blue, I want to tell you something.”
My heart stopped. Somehow, I knew what he might say and I also realized that I wasn’t ready for that. I couldn’t be in love or in a relationship when I was only just figuring myself out. And I couldn’t delve into something so complicated, no matter how I might feel, when I had big problems with my family. If I was in a relationship, I wanted my family to be a part of the process.
“Dax, please don’t. I’m not ready yet,” I said, barely above a whisper, then holding my breath. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt him.
10
As I waited for him to reply, I watched the hues above us as the sun warmed up the sky, making the water glow in purples, pinks and golds.
“Okay,” he whispered back. Tenderly, he brushed some sand off of my nose, smiled slightly, then rolled off of me.
Was he really taking this as well as he seemed to be? I hoped so. Raising my hands to him, I let him help me to my feet.
11
We lingered there for a moment and I almost lost my resolve as his deep soulful eyes looked into mine. Just yesterday, Elliott had held me in a similar way, but this seemed a little more intimate somehow.
12
“Someday, Blue, I don’t know when, I’m going to tell you what I want to say.”
With his face that close to mine, it was difficult to keep my head straight. In a way, I would have loved nothing more than to surrender and for Dax to profess his love to me. However, I had the distinct feeling in my gut that I would love that because it seemed like such a wonderful thing and I’d never experienced a man telling me anything like that before. My future just looked so uncertain, how could I begin anything serious now? Again, my head took charge of my heart. The timing was wrong and this could not work for either of us. There were things Dax needed to work on, too. For instance, he only went out at night and kept himself contained to a dungeon-like cellar.
Maybe Dax would tell me what he wanted to say someday. Or maybe when “someday” came, it would be someone else entirely who expressed their love to me. I just couldn’t tell yet.

Kymber Hawke
Kymber Hawkehttps://booomcha.com/
I am a simmer, Rennie garb wearer, author, and dog petter. Judy Garland is my queen, horror movies & classic movies are my jam. INFJ with "Unity Hayes" as a pseudonym. A little bit eccentric, owned by two cats, Cesare & Josie-Pye. 🐱🐱

78 COMMENTS

  1. If my writer intuition doesnt fail me, I think Blue is intended for Dax as he was the first one she encounter that first night, even if she didn’t see him.
    I love the way Dax seems to be so gentle with her even though he would seem like someone that would be rough more than anything due to his condition.
    Lovely story. Im really into it more than with the first and second gen.

    • Thank you, Becca. 🙂 Those are good thoughts about Blue/Dax. I hope you like how it all turns out. lol 😀 I think this gen was one of my favorites to write.

  2. I did cross my mind after last chapter that it could be Mango, but then my brain said: nonsense.
    Not sure how I’m feeling about the whole idea and money trees bother me too somewhat as I’m not into supernatural stuff much. But I should probably shut up as I have stuff in my story as well. Gonna reserve judgment for later.
    IDK why but I want Blue with Elliott right now. Then again, I would have probably wanted her with Dax then. 😁

    • Thank you so much. 🙂 I’ve gotta tell you, this was the first time I’d ever used money trees in game. They actually came with the lot so I decided to see what happened. lol I hope you’ll still enjoy the story. 🙂

      I liked Elliott a lot, and I think they would make a good match. But then, I thought at the time she’d make a good match with Dax, too. lol

  3. Well…I didn’t see that coming. So, we know where Mango has been all these years. I want to hear more. Seems strange that he’d agree to such a thing when he had a family to consider. Not a smart move on his part, and I bet he regrets it now.

    I’m shipping Blue and Dax so bad, and my romantic heart was screaming for that typical kissing movie scene. 😄 Hey, If Blue breaks his heart, you can send him my way. 😊😊😁 My SimSelf will serenade him all the day long (I’m a classically trained singer) and he can paint lovely pictures for me to hang up in my music room. ❤️❤️❤️

    • Yes! Mango is found! lol As for it not being very smart of him to accept the plan… let’s just say Keniesha was the brains in the family. hahaha

      You’re shipping Blax! Awesome! But, hold that thought. lol I think Dax would love to be serenaded in your music room while he paints.

  4. MANGO?! LOL We’ve finally gotten back to him! I remember you said we would long time ago. Well! I can’t wait to hear this table and find out what happened. Also, I love how we can see Blue maturing, but she is still the same fiesty girl. And man! She’s got ALL the dudes! Lol

  5. Whoa…Mango??! I did not see that coming! Poor Mango, I kinda feel sorry for him. For one stupid decision he lost his wife, his kids…everything. His relationship with Dax is quite a funny one though! 😀
    Am I the only one here who is team Elliot? 😂

  6. 😮 Oh my goodness! I can’t believe I was right! Well, partially right, but still! I can’t believe Mango is some weird creature though. I feel bad and I hope they can find some type of cure for him. I wonder why everyone treats him so badly though… Oooo! I wonder what would happen if Mango was to see Keniesha again. Poor Mango, now forever alone.

  7. Mango! I knew it had to be you. I knew for a while now that Mango was definitely coming back this generation, especially after spotting him at Blue’s birthday in Leo’s posts. Something tells me Liev was on to him a little, but him being able to make people forget explains that weird conversation with Liev and Leo really well now. SO MUCH FORESHADOWING! I love it! I also love Dax and Blue so much. Dax is just such a sweetie For now on when something weird happens, I’m just gonna shrug and say, “money trees”. Everything else is invalid because money tress!

    • Hahaha! I’m delighted by your reaction. 🙂 You had keen eyes to spot him at Blue’s party, that’s for sure.
      LOL! That’s my answer to everything weird, too. “Money trees.” hahaha

  8. Knew it was going to be Mango….interesting that everyone calls him No Name. I wonder what he wants to tell Blue and why she’s not the one he wanted yet she’s the one he sent the note to. Sounds strange and I don’t trust him. Plus why did he agree to this? He had a family, children who needed him. Could anyone’s career be that important? Now he has nothing! I’m still not sure about Blue. I hope the changes she’s made are genuine but I won’t fully believe it until I see how she is when she’s away from the community and dealing with her family. You did too good a job painting her as a not so pleasant person that it’s going to take time for me to trust these changes. Until then my protective instincts wants Dax to be at a safe distance from her lest he gets hurt.

    • Thank you so much 🙂 I reckon I did my job then! haha That’s a good question about Mango – why would he agree to such a thing? More about that comes out later. As for Dax, I don’t want him to get hurt either. <3

    • Thank you so much, SarahLou! 🙂 Dax is coming around! Woot! Now, if he’ll just come out during the day, we’ll see some progress. haha

  9. Mango?! Really did not see that coming (but now that I think about it I do remember you saying something about his return in generation 3). You have a gift for answering one question while raising 3 more!! It is so frustrating, but I can’t get enough!!!
    Blue’s response to Dax really shows how she has matured. She is not only thinking of herself. I am really proud of her! ❤

    • Thank you, socallucyfan! 😀 Yes, Mango! I promised his whereabouts would be explained and here we are. hahaha
      Blue seems to be maturing nicely; I’m proud of her, too. 😀

  10. Oh. My. GOD! Brvnfnnjenslfnelwjbnflebwfks! Arghfewohj! What in god’s name is going on!? Why is Mango here?! WHY are his EYES GLOWING?!?!?! These are questions I hadn’t anticipated having to ask. O.o
    Alright, I’ve gathered the pieces of my brain. Now, I see that there is quite a lot of love for Blax (Blue/Dax, also known as True Dat), but I really like Elliot. He’s a stable guy with his heart in the right place and a good head on his shoulders. There’s also the charmingly stoic Matthieu.
    But, as strange as it is to admit this, Blue is right. She’s not ready for any kind of committed relationship, and that’s what all these guys would be looking for. Stable. Unyielding. A true partnership. And Blue’s still only flighty, at best.

    • Thank you, fluffymao 🙂 Yes, ’tis Mango! And his eyes glow! :O 😀
      I love the mashup of Blax! So cool! And True Dat – I’m seriously laughing. You don’t know how much I enjoy your writing and sense of humore. 😀
      There are a few others that really like Elliott, too, for the same reasons. They mostly comment on my profile at the Sims 3 site. And I can totally see why Elliott would be popular since he’s basically uncomplicated and stable. Oh yes, and let’s not forget Matthieu. 🙂
      You are so right about what the guys would be looking for as opposed to where Blue is at the moment.

  11. Well, Mango, usually when shady scientists want to rope into an experiment you can’t tell anyone about, that’s bad news.
    I wonder what everything has to do with the Capras though.

  12. Mango returns?!?! I really was not expecting that twist. And gosh, I love how Dax and Blue played out the end. It’s good that she realized she’s not ready for a relationship yet. I’m excited for when she is though 😉

    • Thank you so much! I’m excited for that, too. 🙂 I’m so glad that Mango’s appearance surprised you. 😀 I’ve been waiting to tell his story for a really long time.

  13. YES!!! so glad everyone now knows Mango is alive. I have been waiting since Blue’s Birthday party for this when I saw him in the pics.
    HAHAHAHAHAHAA Deathbell Disorder. I love how you come up with the craziest Sim like names for your diseases.
    Yes you go Dax you real her in. Blue is yours forever and don’t you ever forget it.

    • LOL! Thank you, Lil! I’m so excited to present Mango’s story now, it’s got me giddy. 😀 I love coming up with crazy names! lol Go, Dax, Go! 😀

    • hahaha! Thank you, Lila! 🙂 I’m so glad I got to surprise you! In upcoming chapters, you’re going to learn his whole story – finally! LOL Go, team Dax! LOL <3

  14. Very nice twist .. will enjoy getting to see more of the Mango story unfold. OH and Blue you are so fickle .. LOL that close and still wondering who “it” will be <3

  15. Wow ! This is so great ! I remember hearing something about it not being the end of Mango… and now here he is , looking even more like a mango! Lol! This is so exciting and I’m really proud of Blue for trying to take time to process all of this ! She’s showing commendable restraint in the romantic setting of the sunset with the man that makes her heart flutter !

  16. I knew it was Mango! I would say it but didn’t want to spoil it for anyone. Deathbell Disorder! Oh my Goodness, Kym (or For Goodness Cakes?) you are so good with these names, I love all of them. It must be so weird of Blue to suddenly meet her great uncle. I can’t believe she turned down Dax, I doubt I would myself be able to. Just look at this face! Maybe someday will come someday… We’ll just have to see!

    • Thank you, Jowita! 🙂 I thought you had figured it out last week haha 😀 I love giving things funny names. 😛 I don’t know why it amuses me so much to do that. lol I would have had a hard time putting Dax off, too. But we’re going to have to see how her love life turns out. 😀

  17. Oops, still had things to say! =) I love the Mango twist, totally unexpected! I always sort of wondered what happened to him, and honestly, I never really thought he was good enough for Keneisha, either! Now we have to wait and see what is coming…you have a devious mind, Kymber!! (by the way, that’s a compliment) =D

    • LMBO! Seriously laughing right now! 😛 A devious mind? Thank you! 😀 I’m so glad you didn’t see Mango coming. I know this has been a long time finding out what happened to him, but I do have a reason behind the wait that will come to light in the near future. He and Keniesha didn’t really have a chance, did they? She was so intelligent and he was… well, let’s just say that he was a few threads short of a sweater. (He’s smarter now, I promise.) 😛

    • Thank you so much, Fibi! 🙂 I’m glad you didn’t see Mango coming. 😀 It’s getting intense, for sure. There is so much coming up, I can hardly contain myself! lol Go team Dax! 😀

  18. I love how she is growing up, for here you see she is thinking about others now and not just herself. Secretly I’m team Dax but I do want to see what happens with Matthieu. Don’t discount him yet!
    Why on earth would any married man with children agree to this? Tells me he wasn’t really committed to Keneisha deep down and his personal successes were more important to him in the end.

    • Thank you, Bee. I agree with your assessment of Blue. She still has a spunk about her, but she isn’t centered on herself as much now. 🙂 As for Mango, if you remember, he was about one twist short of a slinky. I’m not saying that’s an excuse, but I’m not sure he considered everything prior to making his decision. I think now, he truly regrets it. We’ll learn much more in the coming chapters. 😀

  19. Wow! Never expected that it was Mango! And no Blue, when the times comes it WILL be Dax not someone else. (Yep, shipping them so bad!) This took a really strange twist I wasn’t expecting. I loved the screen shots. As always they add so much to the story.

    • Thank you so much, audreyfld! 🙂 I’m glad Mango’s appearance surprised you. You are definitely team Dax! haha 😀 Thank you for your kind words.

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