Chapter 63 – Fluttering Hearts

Madelyn and Sarah settled in on the couch, controllers in hand, the screen glowing with the vibrant colors of the Mario Kart starting menu. Madelyn felt her spirits lift as the upbeat music filled the room, her tail swaying gently behind her.

“Alright,” Sarah said with a mischievous grin, already navigating to her usual character, Daisy. “Let’s see if you can keep up this time, Maddy.”

Madelyn rolled her eyes playfully but couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips as she selected Cat-Peach. “You’re going down,” she replied, though her tone carried more determination than conviction.

Lyra perched herself comfortably on Madelyn’s head. “I’ll be the judge of that,” she teased, her laughter like the tinkling of bells. “This is going to be fun to watch.”

The first race began, and Madelyn focused hard, her tongue poking out slightly in concentration. The familiar thrill of the game combined with the warmth of Sarah’s presence pushed away any lingering negativity from the day. She was completely in the moment, steering her character through twists and turns, narrowly dodging obstacles, and collecting power-ups with growing skill.

Sarah, as expected, took the lead early, her character zooming effortlessly across the track. But this time, Madelyn managed to hold her position in second place, even dodging a blue shell that had been meant for Sarah. When she crossed the finish line in second, she let out a triumphant laugh.

“Yes! Second!” Madelyn cheered, her tail swishing excitedly.

Sarah glanced at her with a grin. “Not bad, Dancing Flame. But you’ve still got a ways to go if you want to dethrone me.”

They continued through several more races, and to Madelyn’s delight, she managed to snag second place in most of them. It wasn’t first, but it was a far cry from her earlier struggles to even stay in the top five. Each small victory sent a ripple of happiness through her, the competitive but friendly banter between her and Sarah only making the experience sweeter.

“Look at you, getting all confident,” Sarah teased as they finished yet another race. “If you keep this up, you might actually beat me one day.”

Madelyn laughed, leaning back against the couch. “We’ll see about that. I’m pretty proud of my second-place streak right now.”

Lyra giggled from her perch, pointing at the screen. “You’ve got her on her toes, Maddy. That’s progress!”

Madelyn glanced at Sarah, who was mock-scowling at Lyra, and felt a warm glow settle in her chest. She loved this—just being here, playing games, and feeling close to Sarah. It wasn’t just fun; it was comforting in a way she couldn’t quite put into words.

As the final race ended, Sarah stretched with a dramatic yawn. “Alright, champion of second place, what’s next? Another round or a snack break?”

Madelyn’s ears perked up at the mention of snacks. “Snack break,” she said decisively, setting her controller down. “But don’t think this means I’m giving up. I’m coming for first next time.”

“Bring it on,” Sarah replied with a wink, nudging her playfully as they headed to the kitchen.

Madelyn and Sarah returned to the living room, arms laden with snacks—popcorn, chips, and a few sodas. They plopped back onto the couch, sitting close enough that their shoulders brushed. The warmth of Sarah’s presence sent a flutter through Madelyn’s chest, and she could feel her nerves bubbling up again.

Sarah seemed completely at ease, casually tossing popcorn into her mouth and scrolling through her phone with her free hand. Meanwhile, Madelyn’s mind raced, her emotions tangling in an impossible knot. She felt safe and happy being next to Sarah, but there was a nervous undercurrent she couldn’t shake.

What was she feeling? She didn’t know how to put it into words, but being around Sarah lately had been so… different. Every laugh, every playful nudge, every shared look seemed to stir something deeper within her.

Her thoughts spiraled back to lunch, to Sarah’s teasing comment—love at first sight. Did Sarah mean it? Was it just a joke, or was there truth hidden in her words? And if it was true, what did that mean for them? For her?

Madelyn’s tail swayed behind her, a mix of nervous energy and unconscious happiness, though she was too wrapped up in her thoughts to notice. Were her feelings okay? She and Sarah were both girls now. And they’d been best friends for years—did these feelings cross a line? What if Sarah didn’t feel the same way? What if she was just being her usual playful self, and Madelyn was reading too much into it?

Her gaze drifted to Sarah, who was oblivious to the internal storm raging within Madelyn. She looked so relaxed, her golden hair catching the light from the lamp, her lips curved in a small, contented smile. The sight made Madelyn’s heart flutter again, and she quickly looked away, her cheeks heating.

Sarah nudged her lightly, snapping her out of her thoughts. “Hey, you okay? You’re awfully quiet over there.”

Madelyn forced a small smile, struggling to keep her voice steady. “Y-Yeah, I’m fine. Just… thinking.”

“Thinking, huh?” Sarah set her phone down and turned her full attention to Madelyn, her eyes soft and curious. “About what?”

Madelyn hesitated, her nerves tightening. “Just… stuff,” she said lamely, trying to play it off. “School, life, you know.”

Sarah studied her for a moment, then smiled warmly. “You’ve got that overthinking look again. Relax, Maddy.” Her tone was light, but the warmth in her eyes made the words feel like a hug.

The sincerity in Sarah’s voice eased some of Madelyn’s nerves, though the whirlwind of feelings inside her refused to settle completely. Sarah reached out, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “You know you can always talk to me, right? About anything.”

Madelyn managed a small nod, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thanks, Sarah.”

Sarah grinned and leaned back into the couch, picking up a handful of popcorn. “Anytime, Mads.”

As they sat there, snacking and chatting lightly, Madelyn couldn’t help but steal glances at Sarah. She felt like her emotions were on the brink of spilling over, and she wasn’t sure what to do with them. For now, she decided to focus on the moment, savoring the warmth of Sarah’s presence and the easy comfort they shared.

Madelyn’s ears twitched at Sarah’s sudden comment, and her heart skipped a beat. “You know,” Sarah said, her tone light and playful, “your hair really looks awesome like this.”

Before Madelyn could respond, Sarah scooted closer—really

close—and her hand was suddenly in Madelyn’s hair. “It’s so soft,” Sarah murmured, running her fingers gently through a loose strand. “And the color… it’s just like fire.”

Madelyn froze, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure Sarah could hear it. The warmth of Sarah’s presence, the feel of her hand in her hair—it was all too much, yet she couldn’t bring herself to pull away. Her cheeks burned, and she was certain her face was as red as her hair. “S-Sarah…” she stammered, unsure of what to say or do.

Sarah seemed oblivious to her flustered state, her focus entirely on Madelyn’s hair. “I want to brush it again,” she mused aloud, “but I don’t want to ruin the hairstyle. It’s just so perfect.”

Madelyn blinked, her mind struggling to keep up. “You want to brush it again?” she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yeah, of course,” Sarah replied, grinning. “It’s so soft, and you made those cute noises when I brushed it yesterday. Purr purr.”

“Oh my gosh, Sarah!” Madelyn groaned, covering her burning face with her hands. Her tail flicked behind her in a mix of embarrassment and something she didn’t want to fully acknowledge.

Sarah laughed, a warm, genuine sound that made Madelyn’s heart flutter. “What? It’s adorable!” she said, leaning back slightly but still sitting close enough that their knees touched. “I swear, Maddy, you’re like a living, breathing ball of fluff and cuteness, and I’m here for it.”

Madelyn’s face flushed a deep red, her ears twitching at the compliment. For a moment, she felt like she might burst from the mix of embarrassment and excitement. But then, in a flicker of bravery, she managed to meet Sarah’s gaze and stammered, “Y-you’re really cute too.” Her voice was soft but earnest, her heart pounding in her chest.

The effect was immediate. Sarah froze, her cheeks turning a shade of pink that rivaled Madelyn’s fiery hair. Her confident grin faltered, replaced by a look of genuine surprise. “W-what?” she stammered, her usual playful demeanor momentarily disrupted.

Madelyn’s own blush deepened, but she didn’t look away this time. It was the first time she’d let something so genuine slip out without overthinking it, and the vulnerability of the moment left her feeling both terrified and exhilarated. “I-I mean it,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “You’re… really cute, Sarah.”

Sarah blinked, clearly taken off guard. For a moment, the room was silent except for the faint hum of the TV in the background. Then, slowly, Sarah’s lips curved into a soft, bashful smile—an expression Madelyn rarely saw on her usually bold and confident friend.

“Well… uh… thanks, Maddy,” Sarah said, her voice quieter than usual. She looked down briefly, tucking a strand of her golden hair behind her ear. “That’s… sweet of you to say.”

Madelyn’s tail swayed behind her, betraying the mix of nervousness and happiness coursing through her. She wasn’t sure what had come over her, but seeing Sarah flustered was surprisingly endearing. “It’s just… true,” she added shyly, her gaze dropping to her lap.

Sarah leaned back slightly, her blush still lingering as she chuckled softly. “You’re full of surprises, Maddy,” she said, her tone warm. “I mean, I always knew you were sweet, but you’re really out here stealing the show, huh?”

Madelyn shook her head, covering her face with her hands again. “Stop,” she mumbled, though her voice carried no real conviction. Her heart was racing, but it wasn’t unpleasant. If anything, she felt lighter, like a weight she hadn’t even realized she was carrying had been lifted.

Sarah reached out, gently pulling one of Madelyn’s hands away from her face. “Hey,” she said softly, her eyes sparkling as they met Madelyn’s. “And in case you hadn’t noticed before… I think you’re really cute too.”

Madelyn’s breath hitched, her cheeks burning anew. She opened her mouth to reply, but no words came out. Instead, she just nodded, her heart swelling with a mix of emotions she didn’t quite know how to process yet.

The moment hung between them, warm and charged, before Sarah leaned back with a teasing grin. “So, does this mean you’ll let me brush your hair again? I mean, since I’m ‘cute’ and all?”

Madelyn’s ears twitched as her tail gave an involuntary flick. She hesitated, her cheeks burning. “Maybe… but later. I’ll think about it.”

Sarah’s grin widened, her eyes dancing with playful triumph. “I’ll hold you to that!”

Madelyn couldn’t help but smile softly, her heart fluttering. As flustered as Sarah made her, she wouldn’t trade these moments for anything in the world.

The sound of the front door opening broke the charged atmosphere, saving both girls from the growing awkwardness. Madelyn’s heart jumped, her emotions doing a complete 180 as she realized her dad was home. She quickly scooted a bit away from Sarah, who gave her a fleeting, slightly sad look before plastering on her usual supportive smile.

Madelyn barely noticed. Her focus was entirely on her father, who entered the living room moments later. He didn’t look particularly anxious—no tension in his shoulders, no frown creasing his forehead. He seemed... neutral. A small wave of relief washed over Madelyn; if he wasn’t visibly upset, then things couldn’t be too bad.

Emily appeared out of the kitchen, her soft smile brightening the room. “Hey, Jack,” she greeted, walking over to him and giving him a quick kiss. “How did it go?”

Jack glanced between his wife, daughter and Sarah, his expression steady but thoughtful. “It went… well,” he said, his voice measured. “Better than I expected, actually.”

Madelyn leaned forward on the couch, her tail swaying slightly in anticipation. “Did the spy show up? Did you find out anything?”

Jack nodded, settling into the armchair across from the girls. “Yes, the contact showed up as planned. They were cautious, of course, but they shared enough to confirm a few things we’ve been suspecting.”

Emily pulled a chair closer and sat beside him, her expression shifting to one of concern. “And? What did you learn?”

Jack exhaled deeply, his hands resting on his knees. “The spy confirmed what we’ve feared for a while now,” he began, his voice steady but heavy with tension. “Astralyth Corporation is behind the disappearances. According to him, the victims seem to be selected at random. There’s no clear pattern—age, gender, location, it doesn’t seem to matter.”

Madelyn’s stomach churned. “What happens to them?” she asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jack shook his head, his jaw tightening. “That’s the part he couldn’t confirm. He doesn’t know exactly what they’re used for, but what he does know is… they never return to their lives. Whether they’re dead or—” He cut himself off, glancing at his daughter’s anxious expression. “It’s not looking good,” he admitted grimly.

Sarah’s hand found Madelyn’s and gave it a reassuring squeeze, her presence grounding her. “And what about Aeloria?” Madelyn pressed, her tail swaying nervously behind her. “Did he say anything about her?”

Jack nodded slowly. “Yes. The spy said the corporation somehow managed to capture Aeloria 16 years ago. He doesn’t know the details of how they did it, but he’s certain she’s been in their custody ever since.”

Madelyn’s eyes widened. “So… she’s in our world? Not in Astralyth Online?”

“That’s what the spy suspects,” Jack confirmed. “Aeloria isn’t just trapped—she’s being used. Think of her as the brain of the game. The corporation is keeping her alive to maintain Astralyth Online, like a living supercomputer. Without her, the game wouldn’t exist.”

Emily’s face paled as she absorbed the information. “They’re using her as a… tool?” she asked, her voice laced with disbelief. “That’s… monstrous.”

“It is,” Jack agreed, his tone grim. “The spy said Astralyth Online is essentially their testing ground. They’re running experiments, but on what exactly, he couldn’t say.”

Madelyn’s mind raced, the weight of the revelation pressing down on her. “So… if they’re using Aeloria to run the game, does that mean they know about me? That I’m her daughter?”

Jack frowned, considering her question. “The spy didn’t mention anything specific about you. But if they’re monitoring the game closely, it’s possible they’ve noticed something unusual. For now, we have to assume they don’t know the full extent of who you are—or what you can do.”

Madelyn swallowed hard, her emotions swirling—fear, anger, determination. “We have to find her,” she said firmly. “We have to free her.”

Jack placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. “We will, Maddy. But we have to be smart about this. If we move too fast or make the wrong move, we could put her—and ourselves—in even more danger.”

Madelyn nodded reluctantly, the fire in her heart tempered by the gravity of her father’s words. She glanced at Sarah, who gave her an encouraging smile, her eyes filled with unwavering support. But there was something else in that smile too—something deeper, something more. It was a warmth that spoke of understanding, of care that went beyond words, making Madelyn’s heart flutter despite the weight of the moment.