*DING!* *DING* *DING!* *DING!*
Sebastian was brought out of his daze when he heard the clock tower ringing.
He realized that he was already standing at the intersection.
"SEB! SEB! SEBBBBB!"
His sister had been screaming, trying to get his attention.
"Hi there Luna, sorry I was late."
"It's fine… more importantly, is everything fine Seb?"
Seb leaned forward and pinched her nose.
"You little pipsqueak, stop worrying about me. Big brother is completely fine."
His lips stretched into a wide smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Whatever you say…"
Luna was not convinced however all she could do was sigh and play along.
It was impossible to make Seb open his mouth about things he refused to tell.
"Since we are already running late, shall we take the shortcut?"
He had been late that day, it was quite possible that they had taken the shortcut back then.
"Sure, might as well."
The two of them then thus set off on another route.
They eventually arrived at a bridge crossing over a frozen lake.
Seb glanced at it checking the height of the fall.
If … if he were to push her off from this bridge… then it should be possible to kill her…
Luna walked half a step in front of him as she always did.
Her long black hair fluttered as the wind blew past the two of them.
They would often take this bridge as a shortcut when going back home.
Sometimes they would stop to take a look at the scenery.
When they did… Seb could get behind her and push her…
And then… and then…
... what was he doing again?
.
.
.
"Seb…"
"Yes?"
"Nothing…"
"Okay."
.
.
It was so that he could gain enough power…
.
.
"Seb…"
"What is it, Luna?"
"Is everything really alright?"
"Why would you ask that? Of course, everything is alright."
"If everything is alright. Why are there tears in your eyes?"
Seb raised his hand to check and sure enough… they came back wet.
How strange…
He was crying for some reason.
But there wasn't any reason to at all.
This was just a simulation.
None of this is real.
It will all be over soon anyway.
He had to get enough power…
So that he would never be hurt again.
"Haha, how strange."
Seb awkwardly laughed as he wiped off his tears with the back of his hand.
But… why was it that his heart was in so much pain at the moment?
"Look, isn't the view really nice from here"
Seb pointed towards the sunset on the horizon.
The sun's rays seemed to dye the skies red while only black silhouettes could be seen of the concrete jungle in the distance.
The crimson red sky seemed to wrap the entire world into a sort of illusionary atmosphere.
Luna however didn't bother appreciating the scenery.
She placed her hand on his shoulder and looked up into his eyes.
"I am serious brother. You need to tell me what's wrong. Didn't we promise?"
"Promise?"
"That we will always be there for each other."
Seb just looked away as his face went dark.
"I guess we had made such a promise after all…"
As stated earlier, the two of them only had each other to rely on most of the time.
Thus one night when Seb was nursing her back from a high fever all alone at night the two had decided to make a pact.
That no matter what happened, they would always be there for each other.
The world might be a lonely place, but at least they weren't alone in it.
Until when he was...
He shook Luna's hand from his shoulder and slowly advanced towards her.
Luna stepped backwards until she reached the railing.
Tears started to trickle down her immature face as well.
"Br-brother. If you don't tell me why are you so sad… I will start feeling sad too."
Luna was still very young.
She would often cry when she saw others in pain.
Even if ...
Seb kept a stone-cold face as he came to a stop right in front of her.
"Luna…"
"Y-Yes Brother?"
Seb watched her stare at him through her teary eyes.
"Big brother loves you…"
If it had been a normal day he would have immediately hugged her and tried to comfort her.
But today…
Just like earlier, he pushed his sister away from him.
She fell over the railing backwards towards the frozen lake down below.
Her tears flew all over the place as gravity accelerated her body downwards.
*Crash*
Luna's body smashed right through the frozen surface of the frozen lake into the water down below.
For a moment she was completely submerged under the water… but her lifeless body soon came floating back to the surface.
"Luna you are such a liar… "
.
.
.
"… you broke your promise again."
.
.
.
Seb went down the bridge and walked over the frozen lake to the point of impact.
Her body was floating lifelessly in the middle of the broken ice.
Shards were pierced into her body as her blood spread in the icy water.
Crimson water below, crimson skies above, and his sister's corpse in front of him.
Seb might have not yet cleared the tutorial, but he already felt that he was there.
If this wasn't purgatory… what was?
The blood however started to climb onto the ice and form a new set of words.
[Attempt 2: Failure!]
[Completion Rate: 40%]
[Reason for failure: Completion rate below 80%]
However, these new words were extremely familiar.
Seb clenched his fist wanting to smash the ground below him in anger, but he stopped at the last second.
He wasn't on solid ground but a thin layer of frozen ice.
If it were to give way, he would fall into the lake below.
"AAAAAARGH!!!!"
Sebastian screamed out in agony.
He wasn't mad that he had failed to clear the tutorial.
He was mad at the fact that he would have to do it again.
He would have to kill his sister.
Again.
.
.
.
*DING!* *DING* *DING!* *DING!*
Seb was once again brought out of his daze by the sound of the bell tower.
He saw his sister glaring at him.
Was she trying to say something?
Seb however couldn't make it out.
He just removed his jacket and put it on her.
He then grabbed her hand and pulled her with him.
He wasn't sure whether or not she tried to protest.
After all, his mind was already occupied.
Trying to figure out how was he going to kill her… this time.