Rose woke up the next morning with a lingering unease. Her mind replayed the moments from the game—Sylus's intense gaze, the way his presence seemed to dominate the screen, his words that had lingered far too long in her thoughts. She tried to shake it off, but the feeling stayed with her. It was like a shadow she couldn't outrun.
She had always been able to compartmentalize things, to separate the world of Love and Deep Space from her reality. But that night, something had shifted. She couldn't tell if it was the intimacy of the scene or the way Sylus's behavior felt so... real.
Shaking her head, Rose sighed and tried to focus on her day. Work, errands, the usual distractions. But every time she closed her eyes, she saw Sylus's red eyes and felt that inexplicable pull.
By the time she sat down at her desk later that evening, the urge to play the game again was overwhelming. She tried to tell herself it was just curiosity—nothing more—but she knew that wasn't the whole truth.
She opened her laptop, the familiar Love and Deep Space screen loading in front of her. She hesitated for a moment, then clicked "Start."
This time, she was determined. She wouldn't let herself be swayed by emotions or the strange attraction she felt for Sylus. She would focus on the game, get the answers she needed about his behavior, and understand why the game seemed to affect her so deeply.
The digital world unfolded before her, its eerie beauty pulling her in. But this time, she wasn't just navigating the game world as a player—she was analyzing it, studying Sylus's every move, every interaction. His actions seemed calculated, detached—but there was something more beneath the surface, something that tugged at her every time he spoke to the protagonist.
And then, just as she was beginning to feel comfortable in the game again, there it was.
The protagonist was standing at the entrance of a dark, narrow corridor, the weight of the mission pressing down on her. Sylus appeared out of nowhere, his red eyes flashing, his presence commanding.
"You're not alone," he said, his voice low, almost too intimate, as he stepped forward. His hand brushed against the protagonist's arm as he reached for the door, and the touch felt... deliberate. Close.
Rose's fingers froze on the keyboard. What the hell was that? It wasn't just the game mechanics anymore. She could feel the tension between them—Sylus and the protagonist—but it felt like more than just a scripted interaction. It felt personal.
The camera angle shifted, focusing on their faces, their proximity. And just as it had happened in the previous scene, the moment lingered, drawing out the intensity.
For a second, it almost felt like Sylus was looking directly at Rose. She could feel his eyes on her, the same way they had in the game the night before. His gaze seemed to pierce through the screen, unsettling her.
But instead of pulling away, Sylus leaned in closer, his voice barely a whisper.
"Are you afraid?" he asked the protagonist, his tone soft yet dangerous.
Rose's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but respond in her mind, Yes, I am afraid—but not of the game.
This scene, this moment—it was too much. She closed the laptop quickly, her breath quickening. What the hell was happening to her? Why was this game, these moments, affecting her like this?
She sat back in her chair, trying to calm her racing heart, but it was no use. This is just a game, she repeated to herself, but the words felt hollow. The lines between reality and fiction were blurring, and she wasn't sure where she stood anymore.
Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Mina.
"Are you okay? You've been quiet lately. I hope you're not getting too caught up in that game..."
Rose stared at the screen, her thoughts a jumbled mess. Caught up in the game? It was more than that. It was about Sylus—about the way he made her feel.
She replied quickly, not knowing what else to say. "I'm fine. Just... taking a break."
She shut off her phone and looked back at the laptop, uncertainty creeping in. The game had always been an escape, a distraction, but now it was something else—something that felt all too real.
Her thoughts returned to Sylus. The way he had looked at the protagonist, the way he had spoken to her—it was almost like he knew Rose was there, watching him. It was like he was waiting for something, like he was calling out to her through the screen.
And that was the most unsettling thing of all.