Chapter 2: The First Encounter
I could still feel the tremors in my hands as I locked the door behind me, pressing my back against it. The apartment was silent, but I didn't feel safe. I looked around, half-expecting that thing from the street to reappear, twisted limbs reaching out of the shadows.
I closed my eyes, forcing myself to breathe, but the memory of that strange screen—Paranormal Containment System activated—flickered in my mind like a neon sign. "This can't be real," I whispered, though I didn't feel a single ounce of certainty.
As if on cue, the voice returned, low and mechanical, like it was speaking directly from the depths of my own mind.
"Welcome, Player Leo. You have entered the initial phase of the Paranormal Containment System. Prepare for your first mission."
The words hit me like a bucket of ice water. "Wait, a mission?" I asked, my voice sounding foreign, shaky.
"Your task is simple: locate, identify, and neutralize an anomaly detected in your vicinity. Failure to comply will result in consequences."
"Consequences?" My heart pounded. "What kind of consequences?"
The voice paused, but its tone was unwavering when it finally responded. "Non-compliance results in loss of control and potential termination."
I gripped the edge of the door, feeling the blood drain from my face. Termination. That wasn't just a game term—it was a threat. The walls of my apartment felt like they were closing in on me, and I took a few deep breaths to steady myself. "I… I don't even know what I'm supposed to do," I muttered, hoping somehow that the system would cut me a break.
"Your survival depends on learning quickly. More instructions will be provided as you progress."
I wanted to scream, to yell at this disembodied voice for dragging me into whatever hellish game this was, but the image of that creature's hollow eyes flashed in my mind. I couldn't risk facing more of them alone. "Fine," I said through gritted teeth. "Tell me where to go."
"Proceed to the alley behind your apartment building."
I shook my head, laughing bitterly. "An alley? Are you serious?" The irony wasn't lost on me. All my life, I'd craved excitement, something more—but not like this. "Guess beggars can't be choosers," I muttered, grabbing my coat and a flashlight as if they'd somehow protect me from whatever was lurking out there.
As I stepped out into the night, the city's usual sounds were conspicuously absent. It was too quiet, the streets feeling deserted, almost like they were holding their breath. The alley loomed ahead, shrouded in shadows, and I had to force myself forward, every nerve in my body screaming at me to turn back.
"Proceed with caution," the voice advised calmly. "An anomaly is near. Maintain visual awareness."
"Yeah, thanks for the tip," I whispered sarcastically. Despite my attempt at humor, my hand tightened around the flashlight as I took a step into the darkness. I swept the light along the alley, illuminating dumpsters and the broken glass littering the ground, but nothing else. Just an empty alley.
Maybe this was all a trick. Maybe there's nothing here.
Then, at the very end of the alley, a shape caught my eye. It was a faint outline, like a shadow that refused to stay still. The shape was human-like, but wrong—its limbs too long, its body hunched. And then I heard it—a low, whispering sound, just on the edge of my hearing. It was speaking, though the words made no sense.
A chill crawled up my spine, and I whispered, "System… what exactly am I supposed to do here?"
"Engage the anomaly. If possible, contain it."
I nearly laughed out loud, though it came out as a strangled breath. "Contain it? Are you kidding?" My voice was shaky, barely above a whisper, but the figure didn't react. It just kept muttering to itself, its back turned to me.
"Your failure to engage will lead to consequences," the system replied, utterly unbothered.
"Easy for you to say," I muttered, my fingers gripping the flashlight so tightly my knuckles ached. I took a cautious step forward, every instinct screaming at me to run the other way. "Come on, Leo, you've got this," I whispered, more to myself than anyone else. "Just… take it slow."
But the creature suddenly stopped whispering. Its head tilted slightly, as if it had sensed me, and I froze, holding my breath.
"Entity awareness detected. Prepare for combat," the voice said, as if it was some kind of tutorial.
Before I could process the words, the creature twisted around to face me, and my heart stopped. Its face—or whatever was left of it—was a dark, hollow void, as if someone had gouged out its eyes and left only empty darkness. A low, rattling growl escaped from its mouth, filling the air with a smell like rotting meat.
I stumbled back, panic flaring in my chest. "Stay back!" I shouted, though I could barely hear my own voice over the sound of my pulse thundering in my ears.
The creature lunged forward, and I swung the flashlight instinctively. It passed right through the creature as if it was made of smoke. "Oh, crap…" My stomach twisted with fear, and I stumbled back, barely keeping my balance.
"System! Help me!" I yelled, desperation clawing at my throat.
"Activate containment device," the voice replied, as calm as ever.
Before I could even think, something solid materialized in my hand—a small, black sphere etched with strange symbols. I didn't have a clue what to do with it, but I didn't have time to question it either. The creature was getting closer, its long, bony fingers reaching out.
With every instinct screaming at me, I hurled the sphere at the creature. The symbols glowed, and a blinding light erupted, consuming the creature in its glow. The alley echoed with its agonized screech as it writhed, the light seeming to burn it from the inside out. And then, just like that, the light faded, leaving nothing but silence.
I was left standing there, breathing hard, clutching the sphere as if it was my last lifeline. My hands shook as I stared at the empty space where the creature had been. "What… the hell was that?" I managed to whisper, barely trusting my own voice.
"Entity contained. Points awarded," the voice announced, unfeeling. "Mission complete. Return to your dwelling."
The words rang hollow, echoing in the empty alley. I looked down at the sphere in my hand, still cool as if nothing had happened. A strange, sick feeling twisted in my gut.
This isn't just a game. I could feel it in my bones. Whatever this "system" was, it was real, and it wasn't going away. I'd barely survived one mission, and the system already had me by the throat.
With a deep breath, I turned and started walking back toward my apartment, feeling the weight of this twisted new reality settle over me. This was only the beginning. I didn't know what else the system had in store, but one thing was certain.
There was no going back.