The Gamma He Thought Could Survive Anything Chapter 08
That evening, Mom and I took a cab home.
On the ride back, I told her everything Theron had done.
She froze for a moment. Then she pulled me into a tight hug.
“Sweetheart, trust me. I survived plenty alone. So trust me–I’m strong. From now on, tell me everything.”
“But I’m proud of you. You’ve grown.”
Her rough, warm hand gently patted my back. My eyes stung.
She was right. Kindness could grow fangs. Fragility could grow into strength.
We were never as helpless as we believed.
Two months later, I was editing footage at Moonframe Studio in Seawolf City.
A PackNet notification popped up.
[Trending. Cloud at the Edge–selected for Lumenvale
International Film Festival–accused of plagiarism.]
Its director was Ophelia.
Two months, and it felt like another life.
My life was peaceful now. I liked it.
I wasn’t interested in celebrity drama.
I tossed my phone aside and went back to work.
At three that afternoon, my coworkers started blowing up the studio group chat, tagging me over and over.
[Lyra, you’re trending on PackNet.]
I clicked. I was the other name.
Cloud at the Edge was accused of copying Dawnseed- my film, submitted two weeks ago.
Why? Both used Crimson Moonrise Mist.
The comments were exploding.
[I watched both. Same location, nothing else in common. Someone’s chasing clout.]
[So the earlier film copied the later one? That’s hilarious.]
[Dawnseed’s riding Cloud’s hype. Everyone knows Cloud’s the real contender.]
My PackNet comment board was flooded.
Some said I was stirring drama. Some defended both films. Others waited for a twist.
Then my studio boss messaged me.
[Who’s behind this?]
[You okay? Want us to suppress it?]
The tactics felt painfully familiar. I already knew the answer.
I typed back: [Leave it alone.]
Next morning, a graduation photo leaked.
Internet detectives quickly realized the directors of both films had been classmates.
[Looks like they weren’t that close.]
[Really? Lyra brought her food, water, did her homework. Not distant.]
[Didn’t they fight over a guy?]
[Besties to enemies over a man? I’m here for it.]
[Ophelia and Theron definitely fell out. Fought at a banquet.]
[Wait–spill.]
The tangled drama pushed it higher.
At almost the same time, the Creative Guild released
its official review. Neither film had committed plagiarism.
Cloud at the Edge’s popularity soared even higher.
Award buzz grew stronger by the hour.
Meanwhile, I became the one branded as the
filmmaker trying to ride its success with Dawnseed.
I let out a quiet laugh.
Classic Ophelia Arden. Always turned others into stepping stones. Build hype, craft the awards
narrative, then walk away clean while others took the fall.
She’d always been good at that.
Was no one ever going to see who she really was?
I sighed. Deep down, I knew I wasn’t powerful enough to fight the tide.
I shut down my computer and headed downstairs.
Headed out for coffee. Maybe it’d wash away the irritation that she–wolf stirred up.
Just then, a familiar figure walked toward me.