IMPORTANT - I've been thinking about this story for a while now. It didn't feel as good as it could be, so I took it upon myself to change a few things and make some improvements. Before you begin, take a look at the list of updates.

1 - The entire story has received lots of extra tweaks, additional polish, and further in-depth proof reading from start to finish.

2 - I noticed over time that the story covers things from many different perspectives. I'm changing that. As of this chapter the perspectives will be locked to just a couple of characters (occasionally switching to others for plot purposes) which should make things easier for everyone.

3 - There's a new Hunie arriving soon. I did this mainly for plot reasons but it fulfils a request I received, too. She should add a dash of spice to the overall story - not to mention some extra characterization.

4 - Updates to the overall continuity of 'Envy'. Now story elements should fit tighter with the newer Huniepop stories I've written.

Okay - that's all for updates. Let's begin!

Mysterious Fox

The morning after a long weekend of chaos – and Mikey sure as hell didn't feel any better for it. His options remained limited – down and out against the luck of the draw. It hadn't taken long for his cousin to snatch the cell from his hand, scroll down his pages, and find out what was going on.

Alas, his secret shattered like fragile glass, and the only thing that spun around in his thoughts was the disgusted face the mall brat pulled as she watched his 'shame'. A gag, a gasp, a cringe – she seemed far from impressed.

"Why didn't you tell me what was going on?" Lillian slid the phone across the table – scowl switched to 'kill' setting. Up she stood, thundering over to grab Mike, freshly showered and a fraction more presentable, by the shoulders.

"Didn't think you'd believe me," He pulled her hands away, shaking his head with a defeated sigh. Now he needed to explain his 'dirty' news too. Great. "It's so farfetched that it doesn't exactly sound believable, now does it?"

"What-ever. Think I'm an idiot or something?" Lillian's nails dug sharp into the skin of his biceps. The discomforting sting brought his senses, half-drunk and sleepy, back to life. "I've known you my whole life. You're not exactly the kinda guy to put something like this online."

"Not that it makes much difference now." The bottle of golden liquor across the table looked awfully tempting amidst all this ill fortune. It didn't take long to snap it up and pour a shot glass to the brim. "Nobody in their right mind's going to listen! I have guilt painted all over me and there's nothing I can do! Going to the carnival tonight's about my only option."

A blur of speed – the younger Winters plucked the booze away from her elder relation, downing it with a refreshed chuckle before tossing the empty glass into his hands. She wen't beyond that, too, snatching the bottle and taking it to the kitchen counter – placing it out of reach. "No more drinking for you," she declared.

"We're like… totes gonna find out who did this and set 'em straight! Seeing you like this, all beat down? Super serial… it's so not you, cuz."

Such words of encouragement did little to raise his spirits. A storm cloud had set in, threats loomed on all sides. In truth, it felt as though there wasn't a damn thing that could be done about it. Mike shook his head at her words, swinging out his legs from the chair. He brushed past Lillian to find the couch, falling headlong into the cool embrace of leather.

There he slumped, reaching for the remote and hopelessly flicking through channels. "Forget it. Unless you have psychic powers, I don't think there's a way out of this one. I'll stick with the only lead I have, thanks."

"Oh-my-god," Lillian snarled with vicious abandon, stomping her bare feet against the hardwood, "You're such a fucking pessimist. Like, gag me with a spoon… mom and dad said I was bad… but you're willing to trust some voice over the phone?"

"Innocent until proven guilty, my buddy Mark said to me," Mike turned to bat two disinterested eyes the way of the gothic diva. "How am I supposed to prove it with everything st-"

"That's it… I'm done!" Lili slid over to the kitchen counter yet again, scooped up her keys, and thumped on two angry feet like a five foot three giant toward her shiny suitcase by the door. "Can't listen to you mope like a fucking deadbeat. Tell you what, Mike. You sit here and feel like all sorry for yourself. I'm gonna go find us some real help."

"How do you intend to do that?" He asked as Lillian reached for a pair of short socks with skulls, and slid them over her pale, bony feet. "You don't know anyone 'round town for starters. What good will wandering aimlessly bring?"

Shoes on and ready to roll, the goth chick slid the keys in the back pocket of her skinny jeans, flipping an angry hand through her pigtailed locks as she went for the door. Touching the handle, she spun back on her heels one last time, eying her pitiful blond cousin with abstract fury.

"Stupid. Did I say anything about getting help from the loooosers in Glenberry? Fat load'a help that'll be, 'specially since you've been cramming your dick where it ain't exactly welcome. Just leave it to me, okay? I'm gonna save your sorry ass for once."

Miss Winters yanked the door open – thundering into the hallway:

"Lili," However, Mike's voice was enough to stop her. He watched her shoulders tense as his lone word reached her.

"What?" She spat, eyes narrow and deadly, sharpened as though they were daggers. "The longer you hold me up the longer it'll take for me to do this. Unless… you're actually planning to get off that g-ross leather couch and come with me?"

A feeling, something from the past, ignited like a bonfire in the core of Mike's soul. His thoughts dove deep into the oceans of his upbringing, and there he saw it, the vauge but warm memories he had of Lillian when they were younger. She'd always had that look when she was serious – back before the days of bleaching her skin bone-white and cramming into leather pants far too tight.

"Nothing," he shook his head. "Say… who do you have in mind? Like I said, you won't find many people willing to help me outside of my band."

An expression of pure confidence, one Mike hadn't seen from his younger relation in so long, overtook her features. Flicking back her pigtails, she smirked, suave and calculated, clasping her hands together in a tight knot.

"About the only damn person that'll, like… make you get off your ass. Well, that's if you haven't burned all your bridges since you came here. Because gawwwwd… looks like you've been doing a real good job of that since you moved out here. Later, looooser."

*SLAM*

The entire room shuddered as Lillian sent the door crashing shut. She was gone – leaving Mike in deep thought over her words. Something about the assurance in her expression, something of a rarity when it came to Lillian, startled and made him feel uneasy in equal measure. It nagged at his core, in a manner he couldn't quite place. Whom in the world was she talking about?

Mike felt his brain spark from its alcohol induced coma, crawling through the crypt to process the colors and feelings into coherent thoughts. Hopping up from the couch, he made a sharp departure for his room, quickly deciding to change into some suitable outdoor clothes as he mulled it over.

Pulling open his draws, he nodded contentedly at his choice of dress. A casual blue shirt and some simple black pants would do. That way, when he did decide to go out, he'd be covered. Changing the outfit he wore brought with it the time for some real pondering, music thumping in the background as he flicked on the stereo by the glowing red 'power' button.

'The things you said don't make much sense, Lili. Who are you talking about? Apparently, they're the only person that's going to make me 'get off my ass' and do something. I can't really think of anybody matching that description. Markus seemed reluctant to help me at best…. Kyanna's out. One look at that video and she'll hack off my nuts – not that Lillian knows either of them anyway.'

"Oh for fuck sakes," he slumped against his bed sheets, running a puzzled hand through his messy peroxide hair. It did little to help move his thoughts along. "Who could you be talking about, Lillian?"

The Corkscrew Carnival – midnight. Lights flashed, people screamed, college students lined up for rides – and people seemed to be having a fantastic time considering it was so late. So the rumours were true after all. This place was open all night long when the carnival folk came to town.

A whistle of awe was the only fitting response for such impressive array of rides and amusements. Mike squeezed his way past a gaggle of teenage girls snapping selfies, taking a moment to rest his weary feet on a bench at the side of all the festivities. Boy did he need a break, especially after walking all the way here.

As the crowds funnelled left and right under the nauseating drawl of carnival music, the blonde decided to get a better look at his surroundings. This 'Lady Sapphire' said she'd be here by now – but in truth Mikey didn't even know who or 'what' to look for. There wasn't exactly a good method in place for picking out strange enigmatic individuals who communicated over the phone.

All the while, girls screamed as they were flung down the rapids, pellet guns 'popped' as smug-looking jocks blasted at cans to win stuffed animals for their cheerleader babes, and the carnival people shouted over the sound to draw in more people. Seconds burned away, minutes dissolved, and Mike found himself growing frustrated as he sat alone, twiddling his fingers.

Face souring into a tense frown, the musician slipped a hand into his pocket, bringing out the Huniebee and giving the middle button a sharp 'stab' with his forefinger. A bright pink flash brought it to life, and he continued onward, thumbing through his messages.

"I'm beginning to wonder if this is just some prank. A joker trying to piss me off, perhaps? Maybe they're even working with the person who did all of this. Never thought I'd say it outright, but Lillian might've been onto something when she warned me. Perhaps putting my faith in something like this was st-"

"Sorry to keep you waiting." A muffled voice came in from the right. Mike, confused, flinched and brought up his guard – turning in rigid dismay to glare in the direction of the sound.

Eyes – wide and confused, took in a sight most peculiar. Before him, there stood an individual of short stature, decked out in a long black coat, wearing grubby white sneakers and shorts underneath. Their features remained obscured by the sight of a pristine ornamental mask of fox-like design, painted in dark orange. From the sides of the facial piece there spilled wisps of bluish hair, and between two hands, the stranger clutched a phone matching the Huniebee.

'So that's how they knew about my fairy phone? They have one of their own...'

"Sapphire?" Mike shuffled back on the bench, his offhand clenched nervously around the edges of his magical cellular device. "You're the person I'm looking for, right?"

A nod of confirmation, "Yes. Let's get this over with. I have a proposition for you… and it doesn't sound like things are going your way, right now at least."

There was something about this mysterious 'Sapphire' person. Their voice though quieted behind the fox, sounded feminine, and vaguely familiar at that. Whoever this person was – it was very likely a 'her' and not somebody of the male persuasion. Winters drew that much of a conclusion with ease.

"Well you aren't exactly wrong about it," Mikey nodded – placing the Huniebee in his lap, squeezing his hands together out of nervousness. A surreal feeling came with meeting somebody like this – almost as though; it was a scene from a movie. "You said on the phone you could help? How? Considering there's not much in the way of options for me… I don't see what you cou-"

"I have a hunch," Sapphire began, whipping Mike's Huniebee away with swift reflexes, pairing it with her own phone, "Interesting," she continued, obviously side-tracked by the technology sat within her palms, "So they do work the same… as I expected. Only difference is they have some slight variations to the operat-"

Mike snapped his fingers, breathing a tired sigh as the girl sat at his side finally returned to the same plane of reality, "Please get to the point," he insisted with a shaky breath, "I'm tired… very tired. The last few days have taken it out of me… and I didn't think I'd spend tonight chasing a mystery caller."

"S-sorry," Sapphire jittered, passing back Mike's precious fairy phone with a shake of the head. "Anyway, as I was saying. I have a hunch that somebody set you up…. I can't be a hundred percent sure just yet… but I'm doing some digging. All I need from you is permission. I already linked our phones together just now. There's one more step I have to take."

"That explains how you got hold of my number anyway... Must be another love fairy in town." Mike's brow furrowed. The tone of Sapphire's voice seemed a little suspicious to say the least. "

"Permission for what?" he asked cautiously. "What do you need from me to chase stuff up?"

The girl pressed her index fingers together, laughing nervously as she paused in what must've been thought. "I need," she continued with another elongated pause, "To access your website. Specifically… I want backdoor access. It's… not exactly hacking if I have your permission first… and that makes what I need to do legal."

"You're aski-" Mike growled, hands balled into uneasy fists as he stood from the bench, "You're asking if you can hack my website? What kind of backwards fucking request is that?"

"Let me explain," Sapphire fire back quickly, holding up her hands in surrender. A few punches of her own Huniebee screen and she brought up a web page. It was filled with long paragraphs – at a glance the majority of it was computer techno-babble.

Scrolling down to one specific segment, Saphire held out her hand, finger outstretched and resting upon a specific section. "Every device that accesses a website leaves behind something called a 'data packet'. I'll put it simply for you. These packets contain random pieces of information about the device and other things… including their I.P address. You following me?"

Mike's head tilted to the side like a lost puppy. He couldn't feel angry, not when the confusion threatened to overwhelm him so thoroughly. The best response he could give was a defeated shake of the head. "I don't speak computer outside sound software and a little online banking… that's as far as I go."

The girl behind the mask gave what sounded like a disappointed sigh, flicking aside a strand of blue hair as she leaned a little closer. Interesting, through the dark holes in the mask, aided by a brief flash of fairground light, Winters was almost certain he saw blue eyes.

"I'll be extra basic for you then I guess… but honestly… I thought you'd be a little smarter than this. Okay, so if you have the right knowhow, you can reassemble the random data packets and use them to piece together things such as a brief history of where the device has been, and it's address. In short-"

It finally made sense now! Mikey snapped his fingers, victorious in his deduction, "….If you put these data packets back together you'd be able to get a snapshot of what the person was doing, and draw up a profile for the suspect…. Damn… that's some detective level work."

"Precisely. Not to mention with this Huniebee I can do almost anything The amount of functions this phone has... it's soooo cool," the girl nodded - her body language much more enthusiastic than before, "See? I knew you'd catch on. It might not be much, but it's a start. I'm afraid I'll have to ask one small thing in return for my services, however."

There was a price to pay – of course. Nothing came for free in this self-centered little world. A sudden wave of apprehensiveness overtook the peroxide-blond singer as he set himself down on the bench again.

"What do you want from me? I don't think I'd have anything you find valuable."

Much to his dismay, the girl opened her arms wide – eyes of blue glowing through the pinpricks of her little fox. It was more than that – a faint aura of the same shade swam across her body in an almost sensual, alluring manner. She let out a whimper, hard, strained - he dared to think passionate in its longing.

"I want a hug," Sapphire uttered softly, her small body trembling with unease as the seconds slipped by. "One cuddle and you'll have my help from here on out…. I-I'm clean and showered… you have my word!"

A an unusual request, but a heartfelt one – there was no doubt about that. The tone of her voice was all the proof that was needed. Sighing, defeated but far from angry over the peculiar dealmaker, the green-eyed singer inched closer, placing his arms around the girls middle in a strong, protective embrace. She could've asked for much worse.

"What do you gain from something like this, Sapphire? You're smart... I'm backed into a corner... there's so much else you could demand from me."

She squeaked - shy and mousey. "...N- nothing really. I'm not like that... I- I just... someone I know made cuddles special... that's all."

A low grunt, half-surprised, half out of unease, popped from his lips as the fox-lady latched on tight, seemingly drinking up the warmth of his closeness with reckless abandon. She snuggled against his chest, sighing contentedly. A faint scent, something of vague familiarity resonated from her.

'I know it's a little odd… but she smells like chocolate…. Where have I – no wait! It's not a smell I'm remembering. It's a taste. Who are you underneath that mask? Why won't you show your face?'

Before Mike could finish his deductions the mysterious informant broke free – her grubby sneakers crunching through the gravel underfoot as she backed away. Nodding to herself, apparently contented, she slid her Huniebee into the confines of her shorts pocket – turning away.

"I'll be in touch, Mike. Until then, no more stupid shit. I gave you more credit than that." A quick wave – and no sooner had Sapphire already evaporated into the hustle and bustle of the passing people.

This whole thing was crazy enough to leave a man wide-eyed. The entirety of the strange meetings events played back in his head like a rewound VHS tape. A petite woman, her shyness, the blue aura around her body, the cheesy video-game nickname and the mask, something about all of it seemed more than a coincidence.

Mike pondered popping the buttons on his shirt to allow the cool air to bathe his glowing skin. The walk to his next destination, wherever that was, would no doubt be a long one. "Sapphire," he repeated the name aloud, squeezing past a cheerleader carrying an oversized stuffed toy. "Damn… This is too much. I could use a shot or two…."

Whatever the plan - he needed to call Lillian first, let her know what was going on. Punching in her digits brought little success - only voicemail. By now, the patience department was running dangerously thin. A sigh gave way to one final try.

'Yeaaaaaah? You've like, reached Lili. Can't take your call right now because, what-ever. I can't be bothered. Leave a message and if it's worth my time I'll get back to you or something. Ciao. Laters!'

"That's the most nauseating thing I've ever heard..."

The voicemail beep signalled loudly, drawing the next snap decision of the evening. Stress levels were rising, and if something wasn't done soon then a meltdown of extreme proportions was on the cards.

With that in mind, Mikey relented, finally surrendering to the god-awful voicemail message. "Lillian, it's me. I'm guessing you're not home yet. If you're out then don't do anything too insane. I'm hitting the Bar and Lounge across from the Carnival. Your dad knows the manager so I should be good in there for a while. I'll see you later. With any luck I can start getting to the bottom of all this soon. Be safe..."

A press of the 'End Call' Icon brought things to a close.

"Okay... I'm out of here. Here's hoping tonight wasn't for nothing."

One question remained clear as ever - awash with stage lights at the front of his troubled mind:

'Can I really trust you, Sapphire? I can't afford you making things any worse...'

To be continued….

I hope this new chapter is to your liking. As always, if you enjoyed it you're more than welcome to leave some feedback. I'm always happy to hear from my readers and I'm very grateful for the time you dedicate to my stories. Once again - I'm sorry for the wait, but I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I like to be sure everything fits in place.

Keep on supporting the official releases of Huniepop and Huniecam Studio. I'll see you in the next installment.