Episode 1: The Update

[Beep....]

The alarm buzzed insistently. It was not the alarm that jolted me awake. It was my brother.

My little brother, Neon Crimsons, was shouting, "Zick! Zick! Listen, it is happening." Neon's voice rang out, "The update is coming!"

I was half asleep. What was he talking about? I rubbed my eyes. I could see his face getting red with joy.

"What did I miss? Which update?"

"I don't know! But it is all over the news! They say it will be out at seven." He said it with anticipation. I tried to make sense of his enthusiasm.

I looked at my phone.

[6:45, 23rd September 2070]

"Stop it! Neon. You are ruining my morning." I yawned. I was still trying to shake off my sleep.

"I am not lying. Come with me and see it for yourself." His dark eyes were not lying. I could tell by the intensity in his gaze.

[Maybe it is just some game update or other trivial thing...]

He does play a lot of games. It made sense at least. But he never involved me in his gaming world. So why a sudden change?

"Fine... I'm coming. Give me a sec." I sighed and got out of bed.

"I'll be waiting downstairs!" His excitement could be seen all over his face. Neon rushed out like a wild child. He left the door wide open.

In the hallway, blue eyes were lurking at me. She was my youngest sibling, Ellie. She is just four. Usually, she loves playing with me. I called her, but she ran away.

"Weird... She was never shy with me."I muttered. I was annoyed. A nagging feeling crept within me.

First, I saw Neon jumping in my room, and then Ellie overlooked me. Two bad omens in one morning. Whatever was with Neon didn't matter. He is a walking disaster. But Ellie, Why was she upset. It was a lot to deal with before I'd even had breakfast

[Did I do something wrong?]

I tried to recall the previous day, but the whole thing was a blur.

[Come on, Brain. Do your stupid job!]

I couldn't get anything from the previous day and the day before. The more I tried to probe about it, the more my head yelled with pain. It was like I was trying to grasp smoke. Something wasn't right.

Suddenly, I noticed a warm liquid trickle down my nose. It was blood. My nose was bleeding. I staggered into the washroom. I stood gazing at my reflection in the sink. My eyes were pitch black with bursts of red. I could feel the blood running in my veins, skin tightening around my skull. It was as if I was gonna burst.

My breath was shaky. I stroked at my cheeks forcefully and washed my face. My all imaginations were crumbling. My whole identity was rotting. I tried to scream but no sound came out.

[Beep! Beep!]

My cell buzzed again. Suddenly, the pain vanished. I looked at the screen. It was 7:00 AM. I rushed to take a quick shower, and changed into fresh clothes.

I could hear Neon shouting, from my room.

[Damn... This chicken is so persistent.]

"Coming!" I called out, stepping into the hallway.

A sudden lightning flashed.

Kaboom!

A deafening explosion shook the house. The glass panes shattered into thousand pieces. The blast threw me across the hall, slamming me into the wall. The shattered glass pieces pierced my skin like a razor. Blood sprayed out from my mouth as my right arm crunched, bones shattering. A sense of agony coursed through my body. I gasped for breath, choking on blood.

"It hurts. It hurts. It huuurts!" I cursed my heart.

My vision blurred and then returned. It revealed a scene from hell. In a split second, the whole house was engulfed by flames. My burned body protested in agony as I tried to move. I could sense pain in every fiber of mine. I could not simply lay down on the floor, waiting for my death. Neon and Ellie needed me. They had none other than me.

I had to find them.

"Neon! Ellie!" I stood on my feet using the support of the wall. My mangled leg buckled beneath me. Blood was splashing out. "Neon, Ellie" I kept repeating their names. My movements were fueled by desperation.

I reached the stairs, but my balance gave away and I rolled down, my already broken body slamming on the floot. The lower floor was already a blaze. The heat was unbearable.

But I couldn't stop. I had to keep looking for Neon and Ellie. I had to believe that they were still alive.

There was a huge hole in the wall. The roof was not going to hold for long. Creek... Thud.. I had to hurry. Time was running out. Neon wanted me to see the news. Then he should be in the study. He should be safe there.

[Please, be safe there!]

I kept dragging myself forward and forward. At this point, pain didn't matter. I could barely see anything in the thick smoke.

I reached the study and it was devastating. The blast has reached here too. I didn't lose hope.

[Thud]

The flames were burning my skin. But I could not care less. I banged the door open and stepped in. The whole place was a burning inferno. I walked straight into the flames. Thick smoke blocked my sight.

I cried, "Neon! Ellie!" My voice was shaking, mingling with the crackling fire. The smoke thinned. And I could see a blood trail. My brain couldn't accept it.

[AAAAAAH...]

My eyes were about to burst in anguish.

In the fire, I could see Neon and Ellie. They were lying in the wreckage. A twisted metal rod pierced right through Neon's head and Ellie's body was crushed under the rubble. Her face was contorted in agony. Flames consumed their flesh and skin.

My whole world shattered in that instant. I stepped into the flames in excruciating pain, refusing to accept the reality. My screams echoed throughout the room. I couldn't lose them. I couldn't—

Beep....

[Burned to Death]

[Respawning]

[1... 2... 3...]

[Respawn Successful]

My eyes flickered, greeted by flashing lights. As my vision cleared, I found myself standing in front of my house. Something was off.

I looked down. My hands were smaller and my arms shorter. I stumbled, and fell onto the grass. Confusion swirled in my mind.

I checked my phone.

[7:25, 23rd September 2062]

Neon stood before me. His large black eyes were locked into mine.