Ring... ring...
The phone call echoed through the police station in Solot town. "I will take the call," Detective Marcus said, his tone filled with urgency and dread, due to the unsolved mysterious death cases in town.
Tension hung in the air like a thick fog as he picked up the caller.
"Hello...thank you for calling Solot police station, how may we help you?"
Immediately, a cold chill ran down his spine as he abruptly placed the phone down.
"Not again...not again..!"
Marcus muttered, as he rushed out of the door, his heart racing so fast with a premonition of dread.
Bruce, his friend and colleague, saw worry in Marcus's frail expression. "Hey! Wait for me!" he yelled, running after him. Marcus surged ahead, fueling the patrol car with hurry as they sped through the streets lined with silent homes.
As they approached the address given by the caller, a crowd was gathered outside, anxious whispers lingered in the air.
Inside the house, they found a young man, pale and lifeless, his mouth wide open as if he wanted to scream for help but wasn't given an opportunity.
This was the sixth victim in that week in Solot town. whereas, over a month, numerous mysterious deaths had claimed more than twenty lives, each more bizarre than the last.
Well, it sounded strange, but also normal.... at times.
Some victims were found in twisted postures, as if caught in the throes of a nightmare. The case puzzled the police, leaving them stranded in a web of confusion and fear.
it felt like a serial killing, yet again not. So...confusing. omg!
One fateful evening, while walking through the streets of Solot, Marcus's ears perked at a hushed conversation among a group of young men.
"Bro, don't ever think of playing that game," one of them warned, eyes wide with fear. Intrigued, Marcus leaned against the wall, as he wanted to know more of the boys conversation.
"This game is evil… those who played it either go mad or die in their sleep." The mere mention of the game ignited a fire within him, he become more desperate to know whether it's true or not.
Whether, the game is the cause of death in his town.
"Hi… I overheard you talking about the game. Where can I find one?" he inquired, forcing politeness into his voice.
"Tsk, tsk..
The boys exchanged glances, unsure whether to be frightened or impressed. "Sir, are you eager to die that much?" one chuckled uneasily, but they ultimately provided him with cryptic details regarding its origins—mysterious and shrouded in secrecy.
" Guess... l have to check it out..."
Determined, Marcus sought out the biggest gaming casino in Solot. Upon entering, he requested the latest game.
"Drerealm… that's the latest. Would you like to try?" asked the attendant, eyes gleaming with a mix of excitement and trepidation.
"Bro! I must warn you, some people claim the virtual game kills in their dreams." Marcus nodded, dismissing the warning as he was pulled deeper into the allure of adventures.
" Are you sure..that you want to play? Marcus didn't think twice as he nodded his head While his fingers glided over the controls, he was thrust into a digital jungle, and a colossal wolf emerged,its growl echoing through the depths of his mind.
He fought fiercely, but he needed a weapon, suddenly, as he thought of a sword, it materialized in his hand, but his grip faltered.
Just as he was about to deliver the final blow, the game abruptly shut down, leaving him breathless.
"Oh… you've played for just five minutes," the attendant announced casually, oblivious to Marcus's growing desperation. "Sorry, sir, we only have a beta version."
Frustrated and restless, Marcus returned home that night, a strange phenomenon enveloping him as he stepped through his door.
Ring....
The doorbell rang unexpectedly. Curiosity piqued, he opened the door to find a package on the floor—a complete version of Drerealm had found its way to him. A chill ran down his spine. Who had delivered this?
Unable to resist.
Marcus ventured back to the casino the next morning, eager to test the original game.
"Please let me use your equipment. I need to see how this works," he pleaded with the attendant, who was equally intrigued.
"Welcome to Drerealm…" the screen flashed, revealing twelve options. Selecting the first, Marcus was swept back into the jungle, confronted once more by the wolf.
He fought valiantly, but once again, the game shut down before he could achieve victory.
Defeated.
" oh no...not again." He shouted, left with disappointments,he made his way back home, where an unsettling silence surrounded him.
That night, as sleep enveloped him, an unsettling noise washed over him. Voices, whispers of the lost echoed around him, pulling him into an abyss of madness.
"What's happening to me?" he murmured, wandering aimlessly down the street, oblivious to the chaotic world around him.
Suddenly, he was jolted back to reality by a screeching car, swerving just in time to avoid him. Bruce, returning from patrol, leaped out of his car, anger and concern painted across his face. "What's wrong with you? If I didn't see you, you would be dead by now!" he yelled, grounding Marcus back to his senses.
Back home, he fell into a restless sleep, only to find himself face-to-face with the same wolf.
This time it felt all too real, claws scratching his shoulder as he fought for survival. "Is this a dream, or am I still in that damned game?" Panic surged through him as he heard a mocking voice, it seemed to come from a far "What a pity; he thinks he's in a visual game…"
"Who are you?" Marcus shouted into the void, his heart thrumming in terror.
"Uum.., wonderful! So you can hear me ?" The voice whispered with suprise as he never expected Marcus to hear him since he was to far a way.
Marcus thought of how his in a world where the line between reality and fantasy was obscured, each step drawing him deeper into the echoes of Drerealm.
All his heart desired, was to solve the death cases and find a way to stop people from dying. As he was still pondering on how to overcome the wolf, a voice whispered again.
" Run to you left, then to you right" he ran while following instructions from the unknown voice. But the wolf persued him so fast from behind. unfortunately , he got tired and suddenly fell down, unable to get up , the wolf jumped over him.