"What? Solitude? Who does he think he is?"
I glared at him, my finger trembling on the trigger. This entire situation was spiraling out of control, and nothing was making sense. My heart raced, but not from fear—something else entirely. Focus, I told myself again. This wasn't the time to get distracted by his cryptic words or his unsettlingly perfect appearance.
"I don't know what you're talking about, and I don't care. You're not human," I said, trying to regain control of the situation. "Just tell me who you are."
His smile deepened, and somehow, that made my pulse quicken. "You won't get it, will you? But trust me, I know you better than anyone."
I couldn't lose focus. I didn't have time for riddles or cryptic NPCs. I needed to get back to the trailer. The timer for the next level was ticking down, and Karun was still resting, injured. I had to wake him up, and we had to prepare for what was coming next.
But this man—this thing—was in my way.
"I don't have time for your riddles," I snapped, backing away slowly. "I see no harm in you for now, but if you get in my way—"
"Is it about your brother?" he interrupted, his voice steady, too calm for the storm brewing inside me.
I froze, my blood turning cold. How did he know about Karun? This wasn't just some NPC glitch. He wasn't some random boss the game had thrown at me. He knew too much. He knew me.
I needed to think. Fast. I couldn't fight him here—not when I was at a disadvantage with only a small arm gun and no backup. I had to retreat, regroup, and get to Karun. We needed to be ready for what was coming, and this man was just the beginning.
But as I turned to leave, his voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Stop, Kathyayini. Listen to me. You won't make it out alive. You'll never get to the cheat code."
I froze.
My heart stopped.
How did he know my name?
Not just Kathy, but Kathyayini. The full name my parents gave me, the one I never used. No one here knows that name except my brother and my parents. No one.
My grip on the gun tightened, and in a swift motion, I pushed him down, straddling him with the barrel of the gun pressed to his throat. "How do you know my name?" I demanded, voice low but threatening. "Who are you?"
The man didn't flinch, didn't even look scared. Instead, he gazed up at me with those same deep, haunting eyes. "I told you. If not me, who else would know you better?"
My hand shook as his words sank in. This wasn't just some NPC. He knew too much. He wasn't like the others. This... this was something else.
"Talk," I growled, pushing the gun harder against his skin. "What do you know about the cheat code? I don't have time for this!"
His voice was low, serious now. And it wasn't just the sound of my name that chilled me—it was the certainty in his tone. Like he knew the outcome. Like he knew everything.
My heart pounded in my ears. How does he know so much about me? My mind screamed at me to leave, to run, but my body wouldn't move. I gripped my weapon tighter.
"I'm not an NPC, but now that I'm stuck here, you might consider me one. Think of me as... premium."
I blinked, caught between disbelief and anger. "Premium NPC? Stop the nonsense!"
His eyes darkened slightly. "I'm serious. You can't make it out of here alone. Not with your brother in the state he's in."
My breath hitched. Karun.
I raised my gun, pressing it against his throat again, my mind torn between pulling the trigger and needing answers. "Speak. What do you know about the cheat code? And how do you know my name?"
He looked up at me, unflinching, then spoke, voice low and deliberate.
His eyes softened, and he whispered, "I will help you with the cheat code. But trust me, you can't make it out of here alone. Not with your brother injured. This level is much more difficult than you think."