[1]

My eyes strained against the whiteness of the computer screen; a bright rectangle with glowing flares of an insufferable radiance that's standing among the silent darkness with the other computers that have been long since shut off in this lonely office workroom. A yawn then escaped from my quivering lips and my eyes had welled up with sluggish tears of fatigue.

I could feel my eyelids weighing down, and my eyelashes were already starting to meet the middle of my pupils. Everything felt heavy and tiresome, and my fingers were more limpless as they hovered over the black smooth keys.

I looked at the computer screen, and the words.. they were wavering in a such a way that proved that I was clearly disoriented from all the sleep deprivation. Perhaps.. a small nap would stop the pleas that my body made to try and make me rest.

But— no, I could not yet sleep. Not when I have overdue work. The job that I have now could so easily slip from my grasp if I made it so. So, I must work despite my desires to get some shut-eye.

I have to work.

...

Not even a moment later, after concluding that I should not yield to the pining needs of this coveted

yet forbidden rest, I was already nestling between my bare cold arms as I kept my eyes on the screen as that was the least I felt I could do.

The sentences were jumbling, and the time had passed by so slowly as if a second was worth double its duration.

The sound of the metal clock behind me while its hands ticked and spun, my desk had stood in the back of the room- isolated from the other employees like a forgotten bygone. As my thoughts had become more and less surfaced, the ticks of the clock started sounding more and more quiet. My ears felt numb from all the noise, and I really could feel myself slipping away from my conscious now.

Suddenly, a sound had resonated in my ears like an echo of a calming tune, which resembled a soft chime. And then, there was a light yellow tab which abruptly made its way into the screen. Words had started typing on their own, as if there was an invisible presence.

"Would you"

"Would you like.."

"Would you like to play?"

"Yes" or "No."

I felt a pang of urgency being sent to my chest and my heart began racing as if I had just ran a mile. My back felt cold, and my breathing had intensified. It was eerie to say the least.

But, considering my body wouldn't move, seriously, I knew something was seriously wrong. My head had still stuck to the cushions of my flesh, and my legs felt like they being held down by something. My consciousness had fully returned, I was no longer tired, rather— if anything, I was scared, panicked.

This was like some little start to a horror movie. I either had downloaded a vicious virus, was dreaming, or this is really happening due to some paranormal presence. Or maybe it was a prank from one of my colleagues, but everyone had long left and I never really knew them too well.

"10." "9"

Numbers began counting down below the options of either "yes" or "no" as if it was threatening to then make a decision for me. Regardless of what it picks, I know it's going to not end up well.

"5.." "4"

No, no, no!

"3" "2"

Stop!

"1"

Then, there was that soft chime, ringing in my ears and it had lingered for a while more. The tab then changed, and the option "yes" seemed to have been automatically chosen as it glowed a brighter yellow hue. Of course it would pick that.

And before I knew it, everything had turned a pitch black, like the bottom of a dark ocean as you lose ahold of the anchor that's been keeping you ashore. Ocean? When did I begin thinking of an ocean—

Huh, it was like a body of water was surrounding and swallowing me whole. The cold liquid, submerging each and every part of me as I itched to reach something that felt like was waiting for me, but had never shown. Although my visuals weren't working, my senses, and every fiber of my body, could feel even the littlest of things.

Then , I suddenly felt deeply suffocated. My lungs tightened and the airflow had stopped. I had to have been drowning. I couldn't see, but I knew it.

But then, the pain, the frustration, and apprehension of it all had vanished. My lips felt the sheer softness of something else sucking it in as warm digits had held the side of my cold cheeks. The foreboding suspense had faded away, and I felt quickly as ease.

"..."

"...Ser—"

A soft feminine voice had screamed out, intercepting the obstruction of my ears, and it felt like I finally hear something.

"..My.. Sera—!"

So familiar.

"My Lady!"

"Seraphine!"

Before I knew it, my eyes had flickered opened to a groggy room and I let out a deep and sharp gasp as if my voice had been jammed away for decades. A painful cough then swelled up in my throat, and then I began hackling dryly for a moment before it stopped roughly.

I gripped a handful of the sheets below me as I was laying on what would be a bed, and then a hand below the eggshell colored walls above me adorned with such ornamental sculptural designs, reached out to me; offering that I should raise myself up to a sitting position.

I grabbed the hand, without any hesitation as lying down had made me feel drowsy and confused. And then, the faces had formed beyond my groggy eyesight. Several faces and eyes— which stared at me with such piercing intensity. Now, I realized that I wasn't at some hospital or something. The place I had found myself in was far extravagant and royally tasteful for my dull gaze.

Then, amongst the crowd, a young girl was moving upwards, closer to me. She had immediately caught my attention out of the blue with her dark blue hair.

A girl, with an innocent expression that held her dark green eyes, button nose, pink lips, and sunkissed freckles, had stepped up with an attire on that would suit a maid in a cliche setting.

But above all else.. she was beautiful. The plain old black dress covered with a cheap ruffled apron had seemed to undermine her looks, but even though, she managed to still look so embellishing. Then, her lips began to crack open,

"My lady, are you feeling.. okay?"

The simple sentence seemed to have broken a dead silence, despite it already being quiet. Everyone seemed to have tense or anxious looks on their faces, and before I knew it, they were no longer staring at me. The white carpet below seemed to have been catching their attention much more than me. Perhaps I was hideous or they finally realized that it was rude to stare at someone that they didn't know.

I looked around, and it seems that the girl was addressing me. My lady? It's not like I was of some high class level. If anything, I'm one of those workaholics who can barely make a living.

Then the doors glazed in a gold and pale yellow pattern opened in the distance, and everyone had centered their attention away. In such a quick swift and orderly manner, everyone had knelt to their knees with their heads facing down with such earnest and intensity.

And with the view no longer being obstructed by those who blocked it, there was a long oval mirror in the back. And there was an unfamiliar reflection.

A small and pale diamond face holding such alluring wide eyes almost.. like a doll's stared at mine. With her slender nose, pursed coral lips, and rose colored blush, it was then accompanied by long and sheeny golden locks that reached a thin waist as emphasized by the silk blue nightgown. I raised my arms, and I realized the reflection that I was looking at, was indeed my reflection.

"Seraphine." A smooth, yet deep masculine voice laced with a rich pleasantness had spoken.

That name, again.

I looked to the left of me as if something had suddenly commanded me to, and then had stood a tall man whom radiated such a powerful air. I looked up, and he looked at me with such jarring dangerous eyes.. almost as if they were daring to reap upon me. And, it wasn't a worried, pitiful, nor relieved look. His expression hadn't held a single inch of warmth. Instead, he seemed rather irritated by my presence.

Though, his face, was sculpted like as though the Gods had taken their sweet time making him. He was strikingly gorgeous in multiple aspects.

—His eyes had complemented his caramel skin with its pristine and delicate blue. It was as if the sky's shade was made just for his iridescent lenses. And, honing his features was a beautifully chiseled and defined jawline. More so, his broad— strong muscular frame, trapped beneath his suit which was the deep color of a midnight blue encased by such precise golden buttons and tassels, and a black silk sash, clearly marking a status, was made of unmistakably expensive fabric.

But more importantly, what is this situation?

Then, the soft chime had rang in my ears.

A system tab had popped up in my vision. One that seemed like no one else was aware of, as only my attention was caught. Then, there a decision to make, again. This time, I could finally make a choice.