The sun is high on the sky, but the cold autumn wind is making it soft. The lukewarm autumn wind is blowing peacefully through the window, left open by one of the students.
Lunch break is passing by, so most of the student either went to the library or the cafeteria. A girl with neat build and mild dark circle was sitting on one of the front row desk, looking completely consumed with the note book in front of her. It's just Tien Mao and a few others in her classroom.
She was trying best to focus on today's physics problem. But the students in the back was a bit too loud with their gossiping.
"How did you reach to level 18 so easily??"
A sigh came without her consent. She glanced at them, irritated inside. But was there anything she could do?? It's break time after all.
She closed the note book and finally gave into exhaustion. Slumping her head down on the desk, softly enough, in between notebook and her crossed arms. As her sit was beside one of the window, the sunlight was keeping her warm and the wind was peaceful enough to make her drowsy.
"I don't know why the hell they decided to put 'Otome Dating' tag on it!"
Although sleepy, their conversation, was keeping her awake as playing games was her only way of escaping reality.
"It's just a cultivation game, like... just level up!! So why the hell they gave it so big name like 'Blood Pact: sacred heart' ?? Like why?"
"Yeah... On top of that, to enter in a pact with the characters you have to reach at least level 30."
They all then sighed dramatically. Tian Mao didn't have to look at them to find their facial expressions. When she thought they were going to change the topic of discussion, one of them laughed proudly and said in a mocking tune-
"The game is easy if you focus on level. Are you girls unhappy on the fact that unlike traditional otome game, it doesn't take money on check points?"
"But won't you get killed by your contractor even in the slightest mistake.... and your level will restart???"
They all fall silent. Tien Mao laughed inwardly. Right... that's how 'normal girls' like to play.
'Lone wolf'. She got that title at the very beginning of her gameplay. It's one of her title till now. Whether in game or real life... She is alone.
She raised her head slightly, enough to look at her classmates. Although they were complaining about something... They were still smiling warmly at each other...
Sometimes I wonder. . . 'Lone wolf' does it really suit me ? I'm just a loner. . .
She slumped her head down again. In the back of her mind a memory flashed, her grandmother, old yet strong. Her last family member... who took her in after that accident.... She used to say whenever Tien Mao was lonely "Being alone Is better than being surrounded by people who are backstabber and idiot. If you are strong, people will naturally gather around you."
Tien Mao raised her head and fixed her posture. Right, I need t--just then she felt the her vision was becoming blurry, mixing the colors of her vision one with another ,with a head throbbing pain. She closed her eyes and took in a few deep breaths... but felt a burning sensation into her nostrils. Before her hands could reach to the nostrils, A few crimson drop fall upon her note book. She was having a nose bleed.
She mocked herself for staying up so late last night and hurriedly took a tissue to cover her nose.
Lunch break soon passed away and classes continue after that.
After a long day, she finally got home. No one to welcoming, small yet cozy apartment of her.
She freshen up with a long shower and had her dinner with boiled egg and cup noodles.
Not much, but can keep you alive. . . and let's have it while it's warm.
It's was 19:32 when looked at the clock beside her bed. It was even late today because she was looking for another part time job.
It was almost 21. But she can't sleep..... She was trying hard to stop her hand from reaching out for the phone, but failed... again. She glanced around, a habit. Grandma would be angry with current life style.
Only if she saw me....
....Oh well. Let's just take a look at the game they were talking about.
She saw her hagged eyes and Massey bangs on its black screen before it lit up and started working under her fingers.
Blood Pact.... It is indeed popular. 10m+ download... quite something.
She pushed download option knowing very well she will regret it tomorrow.
It was a matter of moment before it was downloaded.
But. . . After logging into the game, it seems the screen of her phone went on a vacation. It was completely black. . . No music or any welcome notification. . .
Did it just crushed my phone..?- With that thought she sit up, angrily.
But then the game started. Rather it's was telling a story... In a cold feminine voice...
"In a world forgotten by it's God" the line wasn't loud but sudden, it startled her. Before she could clam herself, the voice continue-
"So Some Human had to become it's protector." this line unknowingly sent a chill through her body.... But it also gave her a nostalgic feeling.
She could feel her arms slowly going numb. She thought she was being paranoid, and tried to log out hurriedly. But her breath got stuck in her throat.... she couldn't.
There's no way I'm imagining this. I need to stop this -- she pushed every button she knew to turn it off.
But nothing worked. The screen remained colored with pixelated dark hue.
"They were our protector . . .And we . . . became their's."
Stop-- as the only last option, she threw away the phone at the wall with all her strength. It hitted the wall with a loud thud before falling upsidedown on mattress. The screen turned black, meaning it broke.. .... .... No more story lines can be heard.
What just happened??
Her hands cold from the terror she just went through... And unable to put a logic behind is....
Taking in Sharp breathes, Tien Mao slowly get out of her bed. She walked closer to her 'former' phone, scared it might... just suddenly , get some power up and a warning like massage will pop up, just like every horror movie she has seen till now.
A few minutes passed by. Nothing happened. She was still looking at her phone. Then finally sighed loudly from her relief.
But suddenly, she felt a burning sensation into her nostrils. Followed by terrible headache. They were becoming worse by the passing moment.
"But they couldn't protect themselves " this line echoed. Her heartbeat rising as she looked at her phone again, and it was broken.
This time it wasn't from her phone...This line was echoing inside her head, making head splitting pain with each echo..... Terror rising to her throat, numbing her with pain.
But she felt ....this time the voice was bit sadder....
Unable to bare the pain she falls onto the ground. Her vision was way blurry to see anything, all she could feel was her whole body was burning up. She wanted to move but she couldn't gather an ounce of strength. Pain became more unbearable. She felt as if someone or something was twisting her insides.... Slowly. . . from ribs to farther inside.
She opened her mouth to scream out the pain, but her own blood gushed out... with a faint cough. Her blood covered the cheap mattress below.
Why she was bleeding from ears and nose as if she had some serious internal damage? Why?? And what is happening??? Who is...?
Her confusion didn't last long as she couldn't breathe properly. She grasped for air.... but now even her throat feels sour.... She wanted to call for help but . . . Whom she is going to call?? She is alone...
Can't.... breath...
Why am I going through this??
If I die . . . now.... Like this.... No one will come.....am I going to rot... ?
Please....I don't want to die like this...
She was praying for someone. Anyone. Even those annoying classmates would do. . .Her eyes became teary, not from the pain. But the loneliness that was eating her away. It always has....
..
...
....
Tien Mao's . . heart finally gave up. . The small apartment was now completely silent, without any ragged breath. Suddenly, in that dark room, a glittering ball of light appeared in front of her lifeless body. It was small in size and gave off soft glow... it flew around her.... Slowly taking a figure of human.... countless light sparks appeared around her, if only Tien Mao's lifeless body wasn't there... she would look like a goddess.
"So protect them, dear ****** ."
That mysterious being watched her with a pained and sorrowful eyes.
But the surrounding atmosphere suddenly became dark. The room became dampy and dead, like the calm before the storm.