Mr. Acantho
Active Member
Jessica had always known Greg was a fool. But he was a rich fool, and that made him useful—for now. She’d put up with his long-winded rants about corals and his never-ending obsession with water chemistry for months. Greg’s aquarium hobby was borderline obsessive, but Jessica didn’t mind. She had a goal: his money. And once she had it, she’d be free of his boring life and constant discussions about clownfish breeding habits.
But Greg, unfortunately, wasn’t the type to marry quickly, and Jessica didn’t have the patience to wait for a proposal. That’s when the idea struck her. She didn’t need to marry him. She just needed him... out of the way.
One evening, while Greg was excitedly showing her a YouTube video about rare corals, Jessica’s attention was caught by something else: the mention of palytoxin. It was in a type of coral called palythoas—a beautiful but deadly coral that released one of the most toxic substances on Earth. One wrong move, and it could kill you.
She sat up, a slow, sinister smile spreading across her face. Greg didn’t know about this toxin—he was too busy focusing on pretty colors and growth rates to dive into details. But Jessica did. She now had the perfect plan.
---
Over the next few weeks, Jessica fed Greg’s interest in expanding his coral collection. She casually brought up exotic corals, pretending to be fascinated by their beauty. “Babe, wouldn’t it be amazing if you had something really rare in your tank?” she cooed, brushing her hand along his arm as they sat on the couch. “Something no one else has?”
Greg, always eager to impress, took the bait. “I mean, yeah, that’d be awesome. I’ve always wanted something that stands out. Maybe something with a unique pattern.”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking!” Jessica said, feigning excitement. “I found this coral online... it’s called palythoas. They’re supposed to be stunning. You should totally get some. It’d make your tank the best one out of all your aquarium friends.”
Greg, oblivious to her true intentions, looked it up. “They do look cool,” he said, scratching his chin. “A bit tricky to handle, though. Says here they can be toxic.”
Jessica gave him a sweet smile. “Oh, come on. You’ve been doing this for years. You’re a pro. A little toxin can’t hurt someone who knows what they’re doing.” She winked. Greg blushed. He loved the idea of being the expert, the risk-taker.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll order some,” he said, not thinking twice.
---
A few days later, the palythoas arrived. Greg was excited, as usual, and Jessica watched him with careful eyes. He had no clue what kind of danger he was dealing with. She watched as he set up the acclimation process, the tiny coral polyps slowly adjusting to the tank’s water.
That evening, Jessica made her move.
“Hey babe, I was thinking... why don’t we rearrange your corals? Make some space for the new ones? It’ll look amazing,” she suggested casually.
Greg nodded, eager as always to improve his beloved aquarium. He went to his equipment drawer but frowned. “Huh. I can’t find my gloves. Must’ve misplaced them.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Jessica said, playing it cool. “It’s just a quick move, right? You’ve handled corals without gloves before.”
Greg hesitated for a second but then shrugged. “Yeah, I guess it’s no big deal.”
Jessica’s heart pounded in anticipation as Greg reached into the tank, bare-handed, to move the palythoas. He carefully placed them in the perfect spot, arranging them exactly how he wanted. She stood behind him, watching, her pulse racing. The toxin was invisible, odorless, and completely undetectable as he touched the polyps, brushing his fingers against the deadly coral.
Hours passed, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Greg admired his tank from the couch, while Jessica pretended to scroll through her phone. But soon, the subtle signs began.
“I don’t feel so great,” Greg mumbled, rubbing his temples. “Maybe I’m coming down with something?”
“Oh no, that’s terrible,” Jessica said, her voice dripping with false concern. “Why don’t you lie down? I’ll bring you some water.”
Greg nodded, clearly uncomfortable, and headed to the bedroom. Jessica watched him stumble slightly as he walked. She knew what was happening. The palytoxin was working its way through his system.
Within an hour, Greg’s condition worsened. His breathing became labored, his face pale and sweaty. “I don’t know what’s going on, Jess,” he gasped, lying on the bed. “I think... I need to go to the hospital.”
Jessica sat by his side, placing a cool hand on his forehead. “Oh, babe, I’m sure it’s just a bug. Let’s give it a little more time. I don’t want you to stress over nothing.”
He nodded weakly, trusting her completely. That was his mistake.
As the minutes passed, Greg’s symptoms intensified. Jessica stayed calm, watching him grow weaker with every passing second. His breaths became shallow, and his pulse slowed. She knew there was no coming back from this. Palytoxin was potent, and once it was in your system, there was little anyone could do.
By the time Greg realized something was horribly wrong, it was too late. He tried to sit up, his hand reaching out toward her in desperation, but he collapsed back onto the bed. Jessica watched as his body went still, his eyes wide in shock, the life drained from him.
The perfect crime.
Jessica stood up, taking a deep breath. She glanced at the palythoas in the tank, glowing softly under the aquarium lights. It was almost poetic. She had killed him with the very thing he loved most.
A few hours later, Jessica called 911, her voice shaking as she told them Greg had “suddenly collapsed” after a quiet evening at home. When the paramedics arrived, they found nothing suspicious. The death was ruled a tragic accident—perhaps an allergic reaction, they speculated. No one ever suspected the coral in the tank, or Jessica’s hidden intentions.
She played the grieving girlfriend perfectly, inheriting everything Greg had left behind.
---
In the end, Jessica got what she wanted—Greg’s money, and her freedom. And the tank? Well she put it on Craigslist. And when nobody was interested she threw the live fish & corals, even the palythoas, in the trash. She didn't care they were living things. She was just a gold digger with zero integrity that wanted Greg's money.
But Greg, unfortunately, wasn’t the type to marry quickly, and Jessica didn’t have the patience to wait for a proposal. That’s when the idea struck her. She didn’t need to marry him. She just needed him... out of the way.
One evening, while Greg was excitedly showing her a YouTube video about rare corals, Jessica’s attention was caught by something else: the mention of palytoxin. It was in a type of coral called palythoas—a beautiful but deadly coral that released one of the most toxic substances on Earth. One wrong move, and it could kill you.
She sat up, a slow, sinister smile spreading across her face. Greg didn’t know about this toxin—he was too busy focusing on pretty colors and growth rates to dive into details. But Jessica did. She now had the perfect plan.
---
Over the next few weeks, Jessica fed Greg’s interest in expanding his coral collection. She casually brought up exotic corals, pretending to be fascinated by their beauty. “Babe, wouldn’t it be amazing if you had something really rare in your tank?” she cooed, brushing her hand along his arm as they sat on the couch. “Something no one else has?”
Greg, always eager to impress, took the bait. “I mean, yeah, that’d be awesome. I’ve always wanted something that stands out. Maybe something with a unique pattern.”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking!” Jessica said, feigning excitement. “I found this coral online... it’s called palythoas. They’re supposed to be stunning. You should totally get some. It’d make your tank the best one out of all your aquarium friends.”
Greg, oblivious to her true intentions, looked it up. “They do look cool,” he said, scratching his chin. “A bit tricky to handle, though. Says here they can be toxic.”
Jessica gave him a sweet smile. “Oh, come on. You’ve been doing this for years. You’re a pro. A little toxin can’t hurt someone who knows what they’re doing.” She winked. Greg blushed. He loved the idea of being the expert, the risk-taker.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll order some,” he said, not thinking twice.
---
A few days later, the palythoas arrived. Greg was excited, as usual, and Jessica watched him with careful eyes. He had no clue what kind of danger he was dealing with. She watched as he set up the acclimation process, the tiny coral polyps slowly adjusting to the tank’s water.
That evening, Jessica made her move.
“Hey babe, I was thinking... why don’t we rearrange your corals? Make some space for the new ones? It’ll look amazing,” she suggested casually.
Greg nodded, eager as always to improve his beloved aquarium. He went to his equipment drawer but frowned. “Huh. I can’t find my gloves. Must’ve misplaced them.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Jessica said, playing it cool. “It’s just a quick move, right? You’ve handled corals without gloves before.”
Greg hesitated for a second but then shrugged. “Yeah, I guess it’s no big deal.”
Jessica’s heart pounded in anticipation as Greg reached into the tank, bare-handed, to move the palythoas. He carefully placed them in the perfect spot, arranging them exactly how he wanted. She stood behind him, watching, her pulse racing. The toxin was invisible, odorless, and completely undetectable as he touched the polyps, brushing his fingers against the deadly coral.
Hours passed, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Greg admired his tank from the couch, while Jessica pretended to scroll through her phone. But soon, the subtle signs began.
“I don’t feel so great,” Greg mumbled, rubbing his temples. “Maybe I’m coming down with something?”
“Oh no, that’s terrible,” Jessica said, her voice dripping with false concern. “Why don’t you lie down? I’ll bring you some water.”
Greg nodded, clearly uncomfortable, and headed to the bedroom. Jessica watched him stumble slightly as he walked. She knew what was happening. The palytoxin was working its way through his system.
Within an hour, Greg’s condition worsened. His breathing became labored, his face pale and sweaty. “I don’t know what’s going on, Jess,” he gasped, lying on the bed. “I think... I need to go to the hospital.”
Jessica sat by his side, placing a cool hand on his forehead. “Oh, babe, I’m sure it’s just a bug. Let’s give it a little more time. I don’t want you to stress over nothing.”
He nodded weakly, trusting her completely. That was his mistake.
As the minutes passed, Greg’s symptoms intensified. Jessica stayed calm, watching him grow weaker with every passing second. His breaths became shallow, and his pulse slowed. She knew there was no coming back from this. Palytoxin was potent, and once it was in your system, there was little anyone could do.
By the time Greg realized something was horribly wrong, it was too late. He tried to sit up, his hand reaching out toward her in desperation, but he collapsed back onto the bed. Jessica watched as his body went still, his eyes wide in shock, the life drained from him.
The perfect crime.
Jessica stood up, taking a deep breath. She glanced at the palythoas in the tank, glowing softly under the aquarium lights. It was almost poetic. She had killed him with the very thing he loved most.
A few hours later, Jessica called 911, her voice shaking as she told them Greg had “suddenly collapsed” after a quiet evening at home. When the paramedics arrived, they found nothing suspicious. The death was ruled a tragic accident—perhaps an allergic reaction, they speculated. No one ever suspected the coral in the tank, or Jessica’s hidden intentions.
She played the grieving girlfriend perfectly, inheriting everything Greg had left behind.
---
In the end, Jessica got what she wanted—Greg’s money, and her freedom. And the tank? Well she put it on Craigslist. And when nobody was interested she threw the live fish & corals, even the palythoas, in the trash. She didn't care they were living things. She was just a gold digger with zero integrity that wanted Greg's money.
