The Sinister Screen Queen

The hum of the car's engine filled the tense silence.

Tanya sits in the backseat, arms crossed, gazing out the window.

In the front passenger seat, Keira occasionally glances back, curious at the usually boisterous girl.

Sonya is driving, chatting lightly with Keira about the day ahead.

Tanya's eyes flickered between the car window and the glowing screen visible only to her.

Casey projected her profile in its usual snarky, minimalist style.

Name: Tanya Pendragon

Title: Annoying Stepsister

Age: 15

Skills: Dishwasher Amateur, Advertiser Mid Professional

Emotion Points: 180

Store

Inventory

'Ugh, still a long way to go to the diamond reward. Remind me why I agreed to this ridiculous grind again.' Tanya mentally sighed.

Thinking of giving up already? Too much to handle?

'Ha-ha, like I'd ever give up to you.' Tanya stuck her tongue out.

You could throw in the towel and save us, particularly me all the trouble.

Tanya's eyes narrowed at the glowing text. 'Not a chance.'

'I'm going to get that reward even if it kills me.'

'But speaking of trouble, why hasn't there been a single penalty for failing one of your missions yet?'

Oh, poor thing.

Are you upset there aren't any consequences for your mediocrity?

But since you insist, let me spice things up! Casey cheers deviously.

A new notification popped onto the screen, and Tanya felt a sinking sensation in her stomach.

"…"

 …

"…"

'Are you serious!!!'

Diamond Bond

Open the Diamond Lottery within 3 years

Reward: Diamond Level item

Penalty: World ending threat

Tanya inhaled sharply, gripping the edge of the seat.

'World-ending threat? What the hell does that mean, CASEY?!'

Oh, calm down. It's not like you're going to fail. Think of it as... motivational flair!

Tanya clenched her fist but forced herself to drop it.

'Flair my foot. Whatever.'

'Three years is a long time, I'll worry about it later.'

Tanya wished she had kept her curiosity under control.

Keira glances back at Tanya again, sensing something off.

"Everything okay back there?" Keira asks kindly.

"Yeah, just thinking about school." Tanya couldn't say she might have ended the world.

Keira turns back not for one moment believing Tanya.

Tanya turns her attention back to Casey.

'Wait.' Tanya almost forgot. 'Didn't she earn a reward for that awful kiss with Keira?'

'Casey, where's my prize?'

Awful kiss? Weren't you on Cloud 69 yesterday after it? 

'Real funny but where is it?'

I was hoping you'd forgotten about that. Casey mentally pouts.

'Fat chance. Hand it over.' Tanya requests.

Fine. One gold reward coming up.

'Wait!' Tanya's thought screams out.

Casey freezes mid-animation.

'I don't want that. I want a Gold Lottery instead.'

What? No way! Do you know how much coding that takes?! Casey tries to sound like a professional.

Tanya negotiates with Casey. 'I had a ton of skills in my past life, and none of them carried over.'

'A Gold Lottery roll is the least I deserve. You owe me.' Tanya firmly states.

Casey grumbled at a sound demand for once.

Fine, but don't expect me to do this often. Say the word.

'Roll'

A golden wheel appeared on the screen, spinning rapidly.

Tanya leaned forward, her heart pounding with excitement. Bright, radiant light shot from the screen, making her grin like a maniac.

In the front passenger seat, Keira glanced over her shoulder, catching Tanya's expression.

"What's with the creepy smile? You look deranged."

Tanya snapped out of it and glared at her. "Nothing! Mind your business, Keira."

The wheel slowed, and three cards shot out, each shimmering with an ethereal glow.

Here we go… Card one!

The first card flipped over, revealing a stylized image of a masked fighter in motion.

Cassandra Cain's Combat Skill

The second card flipped, showing a glowing globe surrounded by a constellation of stars.

Globe of Stars

The third card flipped, revealing a vintage-looking film reel and a bold title.

Pirates of the Caribbean

The Curse of the Black Pearl

Movie rights, and script.

Tanya blinked, stunned. 'I own the rights to Pirates of the Caribbean now?'

Correct. Make a fortune off it or change the names and ruin a classic, it's up to you. Casey happily stated.

Tanya blinks aggressively.

 …

"…"

Aren't you happy? Casey questions.

'No!'

Casey is stunned at that.

Why not?

Tanya tiredly rubs her face. 'This franchise is Keira's break-out role into stardom, if there is no Elizabeth Swan there is no Keira Knightley.'

'And if Keira Knightley never reaches stardom how is she supposed to look after me while I mooch off her?' Tanya tries to explain.

…You have priorities a bit skewed. Casey feels helpless at her host.

'You wouldn't understand.' Tanya glances at Keira and feels extremely sorry for taking her opportunity away.

…

Can't you make the movie yourself and give her the role?

'Did you really ask that question?' Tanya not believing someone could ask such a dumb question.

Yes? Casey feels uneasy.

Tanya exhales and prepares her mental rant.

'Do you have any idea how much it costs to make a movie at that level, over 100 million dollars! Now if it is in a few years I could eventually make that much, but the release date for the movie should be next year.'

'You're basically telling me to earn more money than my mother's family has in less than a year.'

Wow, you really thought about the money. Casey actually thought Tanya might have grown a heart.

Tanya ignores her and continues. 'Add on that I don't have a crew and I don't think I could get anybody to fund this movie and make Keira a lead without cutting a huge chunk of the profits. And…'

Tanya continues listing reasons before Casey interrupts her.

Why don't you change the date and make it when you have the money?

Tanya fidgets with her fingers. 'What happens if things change when I finally make it, what happens if Keira gives up on acting before her big break?' 

Tanya remembers Keira had mental issues when she was a young adult and without Pirates of the Caribbean to offset it she might be worse.

"Hey, Tanya."

Tanya looks up in surprise and is caught by smoky brown eyes.

Tanya stares lost in a daze.

Keira blinks and finally decides to pull this daydreamer out of the car.

"Get out of the car already."

Tanya stumbles onto the pavement.

"We are here already?" Tanya looks around finally registering her surroundings.

Keira sighs at her stepsister and waves goodbye to her mother.

Sonya waves back and drives off, having probably talked to Keira already about when she will fetch them.

Keira then walks into the school. "See you later."

Tanya stares as Keira abandons her and disappears into the crowd of students.

"Did she ditch me?"

Yes, she ditched us.

And we were making a master plan to propel her to stardom. How ungrateful.

Tanya shakes her head and decides she has more pressing issues at the moment.

Like.

'Where is my class?'

Why are you asking me?