Тейлор Поттер и философский виал / Taylor Potter and the Philosophical Vial: Глава 1. Девочка, которая выжила

Chapter 1. The Girl Who Lived
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Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 15:56

2011 year

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 15:57

The seaside town of Little Bay, peaceful, quiet, and serene, was gradually plunging into darkness. A short, dark-skinned woman, lurking in the attic of one of the houses, allowed herself to stir slightly and look away from the "object of observation." The lights in the windows of number four Ferry Lane went out, signaling the Dursleys' retirement.

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 15:57

With a quiet rustling sound, another woman appeared out of nowhere in the attic, wearing a cloak and hat.

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 15:58

"Fortune?" the dark woman asked, turning around. "Where's... Taylor?"

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 15:58

"Rachel's taking her," the new arrival replied.

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 15:59

"Taking?"

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:00

"Yes, on one of her dogs. Hannah, are you unhappy about something?"

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:00

"A one-year-old girl, riding on a huge dog? Then how could you deliver her here with a snap of your fingers? And you, Headmaster Dumbledore, still ask what I'm displeased with?" Hannah McGonagall's voice dripped with sarcasm, and the binoculars in her hand turned into a huge revolver.

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:01

“So the Path commands,” Fortuna answered dispassionately, taking a lighter out of her coat pocket.

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:01

There was a click, and the lights throughout the street went out. The revolver transformed into a night vision device, and Hannah pressed herself to it, watching the enormous dog approaching, with a tall, muscular woman perched on its back, clutching a bundle.

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:02

"How did a one-year-old child defeat the Dark Cape?" McGonagall asked.

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:02

"I don't know, and no one knows," Dumbledore replied, pocketing the lighter. "The war is over, let the capes rejoice, there's no point in worrying them with words about the Path not being completed yet. Come on, Rachel is close."

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:04

Hannah McGonagall obeyed the order as usual, trying not to dwell on what had just happened. The war that the capes, people with superpowers, had waged for eleven years had suddenly ended. The Dark Cape had fallen, facing the Potter family, and Hannah couldn't understand why. Annette Potter, a follower of Lustrum, a Thinker-4, and Danny Potter, a Contact-5, weren't particularly remarkable among capes. The Dark Cape had defeated stronger, more skilled, and more experienced opponents.

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:06

Surely we can't take seriously the idea that a one-year-old girl without superpowers could defeat such an enemy?
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Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:07

2021 year

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:08

Taylor was awakened by someone disturbing one of the webs stretched along every door in the house. A precaution against abrupt awakenings, surprises, and traps. Madison Dursley quietly left her room, crept to the door of the cupboard under the stairs where Taylor was now, and began setting up a trap: two spheres filled with some brightly colored liquids. Two small flies, obeying the command, flew toward the spheres, and Taylor's expression darkened.

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:20

Soda and orange juice!

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:21

If the trap had worked, Taylor would have been forced to hand-wash her clothes. While wearing gray, baggy clothes a couple of sizes too big was no fun, at least they were safe to wear outside. Madison's plan was simple and straightforward: no clothes, so Taylor would remain in the closet all day. When the Dursleys' friends arrived that afternoon, they would be able to torment their seemingly defenseless victim to their heart's content.

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:22

And they will definitely come - it's the end of July, holidays, young and diligent girls have nothing to do.

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:22

Taylor sighed and sat down, resting her elbows on her knees and propping her head up. Yes, she was doing it perfectly, for by the age of eleven, she had grown into a tall, bony, angular, awkward girl, adept at curling up and withdrawing into herself during yet another round of bullying at the hands of the Dursleys. The pinnacle of this had been being locked in this very cupboard, and then, in the darkness, the cramped space, the despair, Taylor suddenly felt the world around her alive. Thousands, hundreds of thousands of tiny insects—flying, crawling, burrowing, scurrying—had responded to Taylor, and her world had never been the same.

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:23

Madison finished placing the spheres and knocked on the closet door.

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:24

"Happy birthday, Taylor! I brought you gifts!" Madison sang, her voice full of honey, syrup, and falseness.

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:24

Taylor sensed through the flies that Madison had retreated to the stairs and was lying low, waiting for the trap to spring. The voice was one of three reasons why the youngest Dursley had gotten away with bullying Taylor at school and on the street. The second was that her mother, Sophia Dursley, generously donated to the school, using her crossbow bolt manufacturing company as a subsidy. The third reason had just spoken—a voice as beautiful as her body.

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:30

"Taylor! Get your skinny ass over here!" Mom Emma yelled.

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:30

"Yes, Mom Emma," Taylor sighed. She's Mom's sister, and Taylor once considered her a friend, confiding in her secrets and sharing her innermost thoughts.

Camrad_RIP 28.12.25 в 16:31

"Or are you planning on locking yourself in there and crying for a whole week?" came another shout.

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 14:22

Taylor sniffled, feeling a surge of rage. Yes, she'd cried, and for a long time, when the Dursleys told her her parents had died in a car accident, and that it was her, Taylor's, fault. But why remind her of that again?

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 14:22

"Come on out!" the voice was getting closer.

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 14:22

Taylor felt a moment of cold calm mixed with hot rage, and one of the flies took off on a suicidal flight. Emma's mother pressed her hand to her eye, rubbing it, trying to get rid of the fly, and didn't notice the balloons tied above the closet door. Before Madison could scream, Emma Dursley yanked the door open.

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 14:48

"You!" and choked, stunned by the fact that she had just been doused with three liters of soda and juice.

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 14:49

All the beauty, the curls, and the luxurious clothes were gone, leaving only a wet, enraged fury. Naturally, all the rage and anger fell not on her adored daughter Madison, but on the "filthy brat"—that is, Taylor. Mother Sophia came home from work for lunch and, of course, didn't stand idly by, applying her muscular black hand to the punishment. After which, Taylor was sent off to work as usual under Madison's supervision, while her mothers locked themselves in the bedroom.

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 14:50

The stationary postal tablet at the entrance jingled.

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 15:29

"The mail has arrived, come and look," Madison said.

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 14:51

"Go yourself," Taylor snapped.

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 15:30

She had enough problems as it was; managing five cleaning robots without hitting or breaking anything was no easy task. Of course, Taylor was usually forbidden from using the Dursleys' various appliances, but with only Madison around now, the young Potter decided to ignore the ban. She knew and sensed what her mothers were doing upstairs, and she knew that they usually didn't get angry for long afterward. As for Madison, she wasn't in the mood for a fight, so the robot hemispheres frantically rolled around the first floor.

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 15:29

“You’re supposed to do all the work,” Madison said, pointing with her hand, but making no attempt to get up from her chair.

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 15:36

"But it doesn't say in what order!" Taylor waved it off.

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 15:36

"I'll tell my parents!"

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 15:37

"Do it!"

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 15:37

Only then did Taylor realize Madison didn't know what her parents were up to, but it was too late. Watching her "little sister" run up the stairs, Taylor sighed. Of course, she'd held onto the hope that Madison would be punished, but there was no point in fooling herself. The "beloved daughter," the "pretty princess," had gotten away with worse. So Taylor decided to check the mail, ordering the cleaning robots to hide so as not to leave a trace.

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 15:38

Miss Taylor Potter

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 15:39

Closet under the stairs

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 15:39

Building 4, Ferry Street

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 15:40

Little Bay

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 15:40

East Coast

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 15:40

Taylor stood there, gaping, staring at the tablet. She didn't know how anyone could design an email like that, but she liked it. The background featured a huge, stylized "C" surrounded by four beautiful figures. Three men and a woman, clad in beautiful armor, with weapons and cloaks fluttering behind them, the image was simply irresistible.

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 15:41

But it had to be done, because Taylor, lost in her reverie, let her guard down and was grabbed by the ear by Mother Sophia. But the execution didn't last more than a few seconds, as Mama Emma gasped.

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 15:42

"S-s-s-ophia!" she pointed at the screen.

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 15:43

Taylor was tossed aside, and now it was her other mother's turn to turn pale. More accurately, her black skin turned gray, and curses poured from her mouth.

Camrad_RIP 29.12.25 в 15:45