It had chosen a most troublesome host.

When this host came across its path, it had considered itself fortunate. The perfect vessel, devoid of sickness and thin blood. The perfect vessel to carve into a semblance of itself, to use for its own purposes. One last chance before oblivion swallowed it whole.

Oaths to others had gotten its previous hosts killed in the past. That was precisely the reason why it endeavored to keep this host from making connections. The family, fine—it had kept the host alive. The creature, fine—it kept the host from destroying herself. The homeland, fine—the price for shaping this host into a survivor.

But others? No. Unacceptable. Other ties were nothing more than interferences, distractions. And despite managing to prevent connections in the early years, the host had suddenly made six of them—six—in the span of weeks.

It cursed its powerlessness. It raged at the fact it was no more than a whisper in the host's ear, that it could not even lace its suggestions with compulsion to enforce isolation. The irony was crushing—this was its final opportunity in a promising body, but it was too weak to completely to control it.

But fortune had smiled upon it on one aspect. This host was curious—curious about the fragments it offered her in dreams, the other blessings it had bestowed. Even strong minds could be tempted, broken by the path curiosity led it down.

It had chosen a most troublesome host. But with the right words, this host could be the foothold required for it to accomplish its objective. At the expense of the host's mind, of course—two minds could not inhabit one body without serious repercussions—but that was none of its concern.

For if the host lost her mind and relinquished control of her body, it would be of her own choosing.


And that's it. Done. You've all made it to the end...and I've actually managed to finish a story XD.

I'll write something more heartfelt later, but for now I want to thank you all for reading Lattices and sticking with it to the end! It's been a both fun yet challenging ride as I juggle my daily life with my writing life, but being able to say I finished something is satisfying, to say the least.

Thanks for sticking with this slow burn of a story!