Days went by. Laura ran around the streets of Red Town in the dead of night, breathing heavily and taking an occasional break in order to catch her breath. Worry and anxiety was evident on her face as she glanced around her.
She continued running, searching each and every alleyway and corner she could, trying to find her younger sister. She ran so fast and so hard that she tripped and fell, sliding on the ground and scraping her right knee.
Laura grunted and cried beneath the rain, calling out to Lindsey as she sobbed and cradled herself. Then, she heard footsteps approaching and immediately picked herself up, taking an attack stance.
But, her expression softened when she noticed the man in front of her.
Genesis slowly approached Laura and placed his hand on her shoulder. "... Why didn't you tell me that she ran away...?" he inquired in a caring voice.
Laura looked up at the 6 foot man and immediately burst into more tears. Then, she slowly wrapped her arms around Genesis, embracing him tightly. Genesis returned the hug and gently brushed her hair.
"I'm scared... What if she's dead...? Has she eaten? Is she safe? I have no idea..." Laura confessed, her voice breathy and broken.
Genesis pulled her back gently and said, "I know. Which is why I'll make it my personal mission to find her. I promise, we'll get your little sister back."
He then placed his hand on Laura's chin, tipped it and smiled softly. He slid his free hand down towards her waist and pulled her closer, bringing his face closer to hers before passionately kissing her.
Laura closed her eyes and felt the moment, her tension easing and her heart beating faster from the kiss. They pulled back and looked at each other, lust evident in their gaze. Then, Genesis looked behind Laura, where 6 men stood wearing ponchos.
"Find her," he demanded.
The men turned around and began searching. Laura looked at them and noticed their outfits, widening her eyes in shock.
"Don't worry. They won't kill her nor will they do her any harm. You have my word," he said as he walked away. "Come. Let's go home."
Laura nodded and followed behind Genesis. Like a moth to flame, she followed the man that was feared throughout the entire city. A twisted, rotten love had formed that night. She was unaware of it, but she adored Genesis and was grateful for everything he had done. But to Genesis, she was nothing more than a pawn in his game of chess.
The next morning, Nico stepped out of the guild and walked around the city with his hood up, looking around the dystopian paradise the players had deemed as Olympus. He felt a familiarity similar to his home back in the real world, which scared him a little.
'I think I'm becoming too comfortable in this world...' he thought to himself as he walked down an alleyway. "Mh?" He raised an eyebrow in surprise as he saw something he wasn't expecting to see.
He stepped closer and pulled out his Voided Xiphos, crouched then stared at the girl who was seemingly sleeping, her body balanced on a trashcan. Nico poked her and she released a soft moan.
'Still alive... What are you doing here, Lindsey?'
***
A few hours passed. Lindsey slowly opened her eyes and stared at the white ceiling. She quickly got up and gasped, looking at her surroundings afterwards. "Where am I...?" she asked as she looked at the unfamiliar room.
"The adventurer's guild," Nico replied as he walked in and sat down on a chair. "I had Melissa heal your wounds and give you a sedative to help you sleep better. How do you feel?"
Lindsey pulled the sheets closer to her and moved away. "... Why are you being nice to me?" she cautiously asked.
"I'm not being nice... Atleast, I couldn't leave a girl I'm acquainted to alone on the street. You could've been mugged, or worse... Why were you in that alleyway anyway? Where's your lady friend?"
"... She's not my friend... She's my sister... And, I left her, along with Genesis..." Lindsey answered, lowering her head and slightly frowning as she did. "Hey..." she said as she began crying, shocking Nico and making him slightly panic.
"Do you really think I can get stronger?" she asked, her tears flowing down her cheeks.
"... I do... But, how far are you willing to go to get stronger?"
"As far as I can go. This time, I'll protect my sister and save her. No matter what it takes."
Nico nodded. "Good. Now that you've made up your mind, you should get the fuck out of my room," he demanded as he stood up.
"Huh?! You're gonna throw me out?! How cruel could you be?!" Lindsey exclaimed dramatically.
"I got you healed, gave you some good meds and let you sleep on the world's comfiest bed. If I do you any more favours, you're bound to become a drag."
"Aw, come on! Just let me stay with you! Atleast for a couple of days?!" Lindsey pleaded as she put her hands together.
Nico rolled his eyes. "Fine. But, you're gonna need to pull your weight. 3 days, then you stand on your own."
"Deal!" Lindsey said as she smiled brightly and got out of bed, running to hug Nico tightly.
Feeling her soft chest rub against his own, Nico became flustered and pried himself out of her hold, forcing her away from him. Lindsey tilted her head in confusion.
"What? You don't like hugs?"
"Not if they're coming from a girl I barely know!"
After having some food, which was mostly Lindsey stuffing her face, the two went monster hunting, particularly towards an abandoned building, where they killed a pack of 17 Dire Wolves.
After slaying the last wolf, Lindsey took a deep breath and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Then, she opened her status screen and began fiddling with it. After a while, Nico recieved a notification and his AutoSiphers relayed the message.
He opened his status screen, and then looked at Lindsey in curiosity.
{ You have one new companion! TreeHart has joined your party! }
Lindsey smiled brightly, but Nico was unfazed. "If your crime lord ex-boss comes running after me, I'll be sure to send him your way instead."
"It's fine. By that point, I'll be strong enough to beat him on my own."
"... Are you sure you want to stick around with me? I'm not particularly a good person."
"You healed me, fed me, and let me rest on your bed. By this world's standards, I'd say you're atleast decent," Lindsey said as she smiled brightly. "I want to get stronger, and I know following you will help me out massively! So, let's get along, Vortex!"
"... Nico. The name's Nico."
Lindsey shrugged in response and turned to walk away, Nico following behind her. Meanwhile, the same group of 5 men wearing ponchos walked around the streets of Red Town, each player that saw them immediately scattering and clearing the path for them.
One player who was talking to another player, a mischievous and lustful glint in his eyes, didn't see them approaching him. But, when he did, it was already too late. The female player he was talking to made a break for it, leaving him behind.
Before he had the chance to escape, he was held in a choke hold and forced onto the wall. He gasped for air, his eyes widening as his voice being strained. The man in the poncho pushed his arm further up the player's throat, making his eyes roll back.
Then, before his life could get taken out, the man in the poncho released the player, allowing his body to fall to the ground. The player gasped for air and coughed, his eyes red from the oxygen he was deprived.
"It's been a while, Muller," the man in the poncho said as he removed his hood, revealing his shiny bald head, green eyes and black AutoSiphers.
"Ace... It has been a while... How you... How are you doing...? Doing good?" Muller replied, trying to mask his nervousness.
"Where is she?" Ace demanded an answer in a low voice.
"Who?"
Ace slapped Muller in the face, causing Muller's cheek to turn red. "I'll ask one last time... Where is she?"
Muller swallowed his saliva in nervousness and slowly stood up. Then, he faced his palm towards the street light above them. Then, his eyes turned blue, a hollow light of the same colour forming around his hands.
A soft hum followed the light, an ethereal glow appearing above Muller's body right after. Muller dropped his hand and then extended it towards the horizon, allowing a holographic screen to appear.
Inside the screen, video footage of Nico carrying an unconscious Lindsey on his back played back. The footage was then fast forwarded, showing the two of them monster hunting together.
Ace smiled and gently smacked Muller's cheek. "Good boy. I guess being a [Seer] isn't as bad as I thought."
The men in the ponchos walked away, knowing exactly where they'd find Lindsey. And when they found her, they'd teach the man with her a lesson he'll never forget...
You don't ever steal from Genesis.