Aldwin stared at his father. His father was currently staring at the package on the ground.

"Pick it up." His father said shifting his gaze towards Aldwin.

Aldwin stared on with his interested hazel eyes. After sometime, he spoke.

"So like, you bought this game because..." He said with a mocking tone.

"Shut up, you brat and just take it." His father burst out and bent down to pick up the package. They were currently standing in the living room. It was quite obvious that they were well-to-do do from the in depth design. Although he was trying to maintain a straight face, Aldwin couldn't help but snicker a little. "I told you, I am not scared of anything." He said shoving the package to his father who had handed it to him.

The package contained the new VR game called 'Phobic Ressonance'. Over the past weeks this game had taken the world by storm and was trending in the gaming society more than anything now.

Both father and son liked gaming. It was the father's job and Aldwin just liked it. But he wasn't going to play this game. He couldn't even believe his father had actually signed a contract to test it and review it.

The reason Aldwin didn't like the game was because of the concept behind it. It was supposed to be a game that helped you conquer all your fears by setting them as levels with different world builds. The concept was interesting but Aldwin felt it was a waste of time. He always tested the games with his father but he just didn't feel it was worth it today.

"Just once, Aldy." His father said becoming desperate. "I promise you don't have to play again."

Aldwin was about to protest again but a thought came to him. He sighed and spoke, "Ok, but it won't be for free." He said. His father smiled and handed him the box.

He took it and stared at it a bit before leaving the room.

***

In his gaming room, Aldwin studied the VR headset in his hands. It looked like any normal headset with nothing really special about it except for the fact that it didn't have the noise cancelling earbuds. Initially he thought it was a mistake but found out that it wasn't a part of it. 'Is this some form of new technology.' he thought looking unconvinced. Apart from that though it was just like any other with the front cover and a sensor at the side. He also noticed that there were no volume adjustment buttons.

"I don't even care anymore." He groaned and put it on.

Finding the on button he pressed it.

Beep! Beep!

*Welcome player 22,345,711

The familiar mechanical voice heard in most VR games spoke and his view distorted. It felt as if his body was being dragged through the air and the was a show of different colours like in movies where a character is travelling through a portal.

Beep!

There was another beep and Troy was standing in a white room with a scroll floating in front of him.

[Welcome to 'The Lounge']

[Please choose a username]

Aldwin began typing on the virtual keyboard that appeared in front of him. 'At least they made their system a bit different.' He thought and pressed 'Enter'. The name he wrote appeared on the scroll.

[Welcome, Aldy]

He had used this name because he thought 'Aldwin' would be in use and it worked. After the welcome, the scroll rolled up and disappeared.

*Generating transfer portal.

The space distorted and a swirling mass formed. Aldwin walked into it as if he had done this so many times already. When he walked through the brightness immediately turned into darkness making him a bit dizzy. Aldwin held his head and steadied himself. "Such strong immersion ." He said calmly breathing out. After calming down he began to take note of his surroundings. The portal had disappeared and there was darkness everywhere except for a piece of thread floating in front of him which seemed to stretch on forever on both sides. It had a golden hue and was very thin.

Aldwin cocked his head to the side a bit. "I don't think I'm scared of the dark though." He said slowly walking towards the thread.

He tried calling the system to find out more but it seemed it was on a time out. The thread looked so mesmerizing now that he stood before it with a sort of golden wave around it.

The scroll appeared and words formed on it.

[Quest window]

Required: Cut the 'thread'.

Reward: Gaming contract.

Aldwin stared blankly at the message. "That was just too short." Aldwin said to himself after reading the quest. "How the hell am I even supposed to cut that!" He shouted but obviously there was no response.

A smile crept on his lips. This was slowly getting interesting by the minute. After contemplating a bit, he seemed to make up his mind. With a swift movement of his hand he attempted to cut the thread. Surprisingly, it cut and slowly withered away. Aldwin was excited and expected to hear the reward message but the scroll was no longer there and no automated voice spoke. Instead, a spotlight was cast somewhere in the dark room and a sort of doll was standing there with a scroll in it's hands. Aldwin stared at it, dumbfounded.

*Heya Aldwin

Aldwin jumped back. He couldn't believe the thing actually spoke to him. It had the same voice as the mechanical voice.

*You can call me Tita. I'll be transacting with you from now on.

It spoke with a smile on. The face was a pretty female one. "Um, will you hand me my reward then?" Aldwin asked scratching the back of his head.

The doll blushed as if it was embarrassed.

*Ah, yes.

It walked over to where Aldwin was. The spotlight followed it as it walled and soon it handed him the scroll. He unfurled it and read the content.

As he read, his face was filled with many emotions. He smiled and frowned and even laughed until he reached the part he had to sign. There was a smile on his face. "This really is an interesting game." he said. The doll which had sat down spoke.

[So it's true]

The voice had changed but there was still a bit of a mechanical tone. Aldwin looked at it confused. "What is true?" he asked.

[It's impossible to believe there is someone like you.]

Aldwin smiled, seeming to know what the doll was talking about causing it to stand up.

[Even now you still show no fear]

A pen formed in its hands.

[Will you sign it?]

He nodded his head and took the pen. As he signed, he spoke. "Even I don't believe it but it seems plausible." He drew the final line and stopped. "But I definitely know it is true."

After signing it, the scroll floated up and burnt up. Aldwin stared at the burning with a faint glow in his eyes.

The doll spoke also staring at the burning scroll too.

[Congratulations on becoming the Progenitor of fear]

The scroll slowly dissipated.

[You are the only one qualified]

The spotlight went off and Aldwin stood alone in the darkness. "Phobia resonance." Aldwin said under his breath. "What an interesting game."