Have you ever felt so invisible that it's like you're not even part of the room?
I wasn't always the social spark plug I am now. Back in the day, my family forgot I existed so often that it felt like a running gag. Granted, I wasn't exactly the life of the party. I barely spoke unless someone forced words out of me and blended into the background like a cheap wallpaper. Honestly, I was the kind of person you'd forget existed the moment you looked away.
I mean, how forgettable do you have to be to get left behind on six family outings in a row? Six. I can still remember sitting alone at home, staring at the clock, wondering if it was intentional or just collateral damage from their collective forgetfulness. The worst part? I didn't even bother to complain. What would've been the point? They'd probably just say something like, "Oh, we didn't realize you weren't in the car." Sure, because counting heads is so difficult.
The real kicker is, after a while, I started wondering if maybe I deserved to be forgotten. If you're so insignificant that people don't notice when you're gone, doesn't that say something about you?
Fast forward to now: new personality, new style, literal body swap—everything about me screams "memorable." You'd think all that effort would count for something, right?
And yet, here I am. New look, new attitude, new world... and still about as visible as a shadow at high noon.
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Jie took a long drag from his cigarette, his expression calm but his words sharp. "The four of us will stay here."
One blinked, clearly caught off guard. "What do you mean? We don't have time to joke around."
Jie exhaled slowly, flicking the cigarette to the ground and crushing it with his heel. "Not joking. I mean the four of us are staying." He motioned toward Zheng, Xiaoyi, and Lan, who were standing a few paces away. "They're just regular people. They won't be able to keep up with all the running and shooting. It's safer for them to stay behind."
One's gaze swept over Zheng and his group, his jaw tightening. He seemed torn between logic and frustration.
"And you?" His eyes narrowed as he looked at me.
Before I could respond, JD stepped in smoothly. "The trainee's with us, sir."
(What a great guy, right? Volunteering me for potential death so casually. Really warms the heart.)
Jie shrugged, his voice even. "I've remembered a bit of who I am. These three are my friends, and I can't just abandon them. I need to stay and protect them."
Zheng shifted uncomfortably but said nothing, his gaze darting toward Xiaoyi and Lan. Xiaoyi, ever the sharp one, folded his arms and stared down anyone who might challenge Jie's words. Lan, on the other hand, bit her lip nervously before nodding in quiet agreement.
One sighed heavily, his patience clearly worn thin. "Fine," he muttered. "Kaplan, reactivate the defense system for the laser corridor. Stay in the Red Queen's room—it's the safest place. Sit tight, stay quiet, and if we make it out of this, we'll report the situation to the corporation. Don't die."
Kaplan reactivated the corridor's defenses, and the lights flickered back on. Through the glass, I exchanged a glance with Zheng and the others, their uncertainty mirrored in my own expression.
I turned to follow the mercs and Alice toward the lab sector. (Do they realize Kaplan will have to disable the AI later to save everyone? Or are they just hoping it'll work out? Either way, I've got my own survival to worry about while running alongside these Hollywood action stereotypes.)
We hadn't gone far when I realized I might have been focusing a bit too much on Alice's, uh, tactical advantages. By the time we reached the lab sector, Rain and JD had vanished. One was busy consulting Kaplan about the next route, while Matt wandered off, likely searching for clues about his sister.
I stayed a step behind Alice until she suddenly staggered, clutching her head. (Oh, her memories must be coming back. Classic timing.)
That's when I noticed Spence, standing by a lab window with a distant look in his eyes, like he was reliving some dark memory.
"See something you like?" I called out, smirking. "Feel free to keep it. We're not coming back, you know… Sorry to cut your window shopping short."
Spence glanced over, his expression caught between annoyance and amusement. "I've got everything I need right here," he replied, patting the gun tucked in his waistband. "Let's regroup with the others."
Before I could respond, a loud crash echoed from a nearby office. Alice darted toward the noise, and I bolted after her.
When we reached the scene, Matt was wrestling with his zombie sister. Alice froze, clearly horrified by the revelation. Seeing her hesitation, I noticed the undead sister shift her focus toward Alice, lunging at her.
Not today, undead Barbie.
I tackled the zombie, my hand scrambling for the knife at my belt as its claws raked across my arm. The pain was sharp, hot, and immediate, but I didn't stop. With a grunt, I drove the blade into its skull once, twice—on the third stab, it finally went limp.
The stench hit me like a freight train, but I forced myself to stand. "She was getting a little too handsy," I muttered, glancing down at the blood dripping from my arm.
When I looked up, Matt was kneeling beside his sister's lifeless body, tears streaking down his face. Alice paused for a moment, her face filled with a mix of sorrow and guilt. After a beat, she stepped forward and kneeled beside him, her hand gently resting on his shoulder.
Her voice was soft but steady. "I'm sorry, Matt," she said, her words heavy with emotion. "I know this isn't how you wanted to find her."
Matt didn't respond, his shoulders trembling as he held his sister's body close. Alice stayed there a moment longer, offering silent support, before finally standing and turning toward me.
Her eyes flicked to my arm, her concern immediate. "Thank you for saving me," she said, taking a step closer. "Is there anything I can do to help with that wound?"
I shrugged, trying to mask the sharp sting in my arm. "It's fine, really. Just a scratch. But, uh, if you're offering... maybe a kiss on the cheek for my bravery?"
To my surprise, Alice's lips twitched into a faint smile. She leaned in, brushing a quick kiss on each cheek. "You're such a good kid," she said warmly, her tone softening.
(And there it is. Kid. I was 29 before all this, damn it!)