"Who are you?" the fact that this person knew his name scared the doctor even more than the fact that this person somehow got inside his house did. Mark was not someone who introduced himself with his full name often.
He was Mark for close personals and Doctor Li for those who had an informal relationship with him. However, somehow not only had this person broken inside his clinic but also seemed to know his personal details.
It was worrying in the worst way possible.
"You don't need to worry about me at all here, Doctor. I'm just a game master for your world, aka a god in that sense" The one not making any sense was the person who had decided his couch would be his throne.
The intruder had decided to forgo any decency he had and just occupied the couch as his throne. Mark was worried about all the contaminants this weirdo would have brought with him inside the clinic.
"Please, what do you want with me?" Mark was ready to plead for his and his cat's life. Why would an intruder break inside his clinic? For money? For supplies? Both seemed likely and if those things would get this person out of his space then Mark was ready to provide this intruder with anything he might need right now.
"Me? Need? Ah, yes. All I need from you is to listen to me for a bit. Can I count on you to listen to me?" Mark felt stiff at the request but he complied with it all the same.
If that was all it took to get freedom then he would give the creature that without hesitation.
There was an almost smile at the other's face at his obedience and Mark felt himself go cold at that. It did not feel good at all, this attention and Mark wanted it gone as soon as he could make it go away from his persona.
"What do you want with me?" Mark asked, once again trying to keep his voice firm but ailing. The natural shake inside his voice would just not go away no matter what he did.
"As I said, all I want you to do is to listen to me. I'm a game master and your world as you knew this earth to be is nothing more than a video game. That's why I can control certain aspects of this space and you are unable to leave this space as long as I want you inside here" Mark felt dread creep up his spine.
Not only was this person mental but also delusional in his head. Was he dropped once while he was a child? Or was this a recent development? This person needed a psychiatrist, not veterinary help.
Maybe Mark should play along with him for now so that he could deal with him later? Yeh, sounds like a good plan to his ears for the time being.
"Alright, Mr Game master. Now, what do you want to tell me about this world?" Mark asked, keeping his voice steady. Was there a code while talking to a crazy person?
The only thing advised for such a situation was not to talk too crazy but he had already failed that particular marker while he had been ahead. He might as well hear the whole story out before the person gets any more angry at him.
"My name is Liam, an employee of Sofantonic - the one who created the software of this world fabric. Currently, the events of this world are in what we call, a per prologue setting where the animals have still not achieved their monster form. This wasn't supposed to happen for another few years and it would have begun with your death by a patient cat of yours. But someone let inside a virus here so now we have to save your world, I guess" wow, this person really had a good imagination.
Maybe a person with less common sense would have believed all that but not Mark. First, a cat would never be dangerous enough to kill unless it's feral and had rabid. Then again, Mark was not foolish enough to work on such cats without the right gear on his head.
For another thing, this world was much too whole to be a program written by humans. Despite everything this person had come up with that sounded plausible, that was the most jarring and non-correct part Mark could find.
"Alright, Mr Liam? That had been an enlightening talk to have but I'm afraid it's too late today and I would have to ask you to leave for today" Mark stood up to open the door and found that it was still locked uptight.
A small groan of protest left his mouth at that. Why was it locked up again?
"I told you that it would not open till I do not want it to. I made sure the central system locked it up tight and nice. Despite being infected by Virus, it is working remarkably" Mark did not like these extra terms being introduced here and there.
He just wanted out of here and as long as the door was locked he could neither go out nor call for help. He was stuck inside here, who quite frankly, lost his marbles a long time ago.
"Sit back down. You see, the attacks by those monsters will begin soon and it's best you prepare. The government had already been topped off by my superiors but I need you, Doctor Li, to stay alive to the end this time" at that moment, Mark really felt like his life was in danger.
The eyes that were focused on him seemed predatory in nature and they felt stiffening to his senses.
And just as quickly the feeling was gone and in its place, and a soothing feeling filled up the place.
"Really Mr Liam, I assure you I'm alright here and nothing would happen to me. I'll get the police protection if you like. Now would you please return home? Also, take this here, I would advise you to visit this place too while you are at it" Mark tore a page and hurriedly scribbled an address as he stuffed it inside the intruder's hand.
Not the smartest move and he could see the not so amused expression on the other's face. Really, the other was in need of a psychiatrist so he was only doing him a favour right now but the glare from the other made his inside freeze at the intensity.
"Fine, I'll give you time to come to terms with what you have learned today doctor Li. I'll be back to get my answer and I'll leave my number back here. Have a good day and call me if you get in trouble of any kind" the person opened the door knowing which Mark had just failed to open seconds ago.
It opened with a click as the person walked out. Mark was spooked enough by the encounter to ask any further question at that second.
As soon as the person left, Mark took in a deep breath and his body finally stopped shuddering. That had been a terrifying encounter and Mark was ready to die there while protecting his clinic but he had somehow survived and got a lot of bullshit in return for his efforts.
Once his breath returned to normal, he decided to open his phone and check for the signal. It was back as well as the calling function. Even the bell was ringing when he called En after the encounter.
He made a lie about checking in and reporting because a lot of time had passed and whatnot to calm his nerves down. If En made any connection between everything then he never mentioned it at all.
That night, Mark went to sleep with a dream full of monsters and mutated cats attacking everyone. Evidently, the morning was also not that good. The cats were fed in the morning before he was allowed to escape with a final checkup.
The final one was kept as their owner was about to pick that one up from his shop. The cat was not happy but did not make any extra fuzz either which Mark was a thankful form
Once that was done, Mark allowed the cat to settle down inside his shop as he opened it up for the day's work. Pretty soon there was a knock on his door which he knew was from the owner of the cat he kept behind yesterday.
He opened up the door to that smiling face which seemed irritating no matter which day he faced it on.
"Doctor Li, are you ok? You seem a little down under the weather" Mark did not want to tell her that it was her face that had made him lose all colour for it would make her delusional in her head.
Rather, he just wanted her to be finished quickly.
"Your cat was fine throughout the night, miss. Just feed it fish type cat food for a few days and it should gain all its weight right back" Mark just handed the cat back to the lady before she could make any unnecessary exchange.
The lady clearly took the clue from his expression and tired complexion and thankfully did not make things any more difficult than they had to be. She paid her bills and left quite in a hurry herself.
Mark just felt drained as he took in his clinic. The white paper with a number caught his attention at the corner.
He crumpled the paper to throw it away but something in the back of his mind stopped his hands. Hey moved unconsciously and before he knew it, he was on his way with the number saved inside his phone as an emergency contact.