It seemed to Valve that the lives of those around her followed two distinct paths—those who embraced where they came from and those who did not. It depended entirely on their perspective. The Akhal-Teke mare was immensely proud of her heritage, even if there were thieves, murderers and cannibals in her family. She faulted none of them for their actions because she knew that they were carried out for good reason. Even if she didn’t agree with her brother’s decisions, she respected that he could make them. Valve was no stranger to these decisions either—she had killed two others in her life and did not regret it. They deserved to die.

Her strange black companion couldn’t be more different than her, yet there was something else just below the surface that kept her curious. So much time had passed since Corinth and Black Heart Machine walked these lands, and he seemed to desperately want to move backwards. Surely he knew that was impossible?

“I have not seen my mother in many years,” Valve replied, waiting for the hope to fade from his eyes like the evening sun. She took no pleasure in sharing this information with him, so much that she almost wanted to lie. To destroy one’s hope was a dangerous prospect. She had seen the hopeless turn unhinged, bitter and malevolent.

“My name is Valve,” she offered. “These lands are under my protection.” She turned and motioned to the vast landscape of sand dunes that sprawled before them before returning her watchful gaze to the stallion.

“Perhaps if you tell me more, I could help you.”

VALVE
slenderman x black heart machine