'Where the hell am I?!'
I couldn't help but say that out loud. I was expecting a paradise or even somewhere dangerous but I definitely wasn't expecting to end up in a pool of mud.
I groaned in frustration. I would really like to believe right now that Natalie wasn't responsible for this.
I could still see the door that lead me here and Natalie's voice resonated behind it.
'One last chance'.
Her voice was tempting but then I remembered the contract I signed and what I wanted in return. I can't go back now.
***
THE GAMEKEEPER
I held the troublesome girl's contract in my hands. She is the only one so far that didn't request for money. Instead, she wanted...
Why was her actions so confusing? I don't know what it is but something about her seems interesting and I really wanna find out even though I know this means trouble for me.
I hesitated for a bit but then I made my decision.
I am going to find out what's so special about that runaway bride.
***
HARPER
I had to look for a place to clean myself up but I was still confused, what is this place? Just as I was wondering what to do next, I saw a glowing little ball in front of me.
What is this?
I felt the little ball enter my body and I felt warmer. Then, I heard a voice in my mind.
'Hello there, I'm christopher. What's your name?'
'Christopher? I'm Harper but who are you and how are you able to talk to me?'
'I thought you were not that dumb'
'Hey! Are you insulting me?'
'Oh no, I'm not. I was just repeating what you had said earlier to miss Natalie'
'Oh really? Well guess what, you're just as annoying as her!'
'I'm sorry'
'Whatever'
'Well, I'm here to guide you and tell you all about the game'
'Okay. go on'.
'All you have to do is play the game and how do you do that? You have to complete all the missions given to you and you have to live by the rules'.
'So you're saying, all I have to do is live like I'm in the real world but I have to follow some certain rules?'.
That sounds easy.
'Let me tell you some tips and rules you have to follow but please note that you're not the only one in this world'.
'What do you mean?'
'There are other players in this world as well and at some point, you will come across them'.
'Okay'.
'Here are the tips and rules:
first, follow all rules.
Play the game or fade away, if you decide not to play the game anymore, you will fade away and by that, I mean both in the game and outside the game. That's why you have to keep on playing, no matter how tired you get'
I was horrified by that.
'Hold on, fade away for real?'
'Yes. You're only allowed to leave the game when you've completed all your missions and lived at least three lives'
'Three lives?!'
'Yes. May I continue with the briefing?'
'Sure'.
'Do not fall in love. I repeat, do not fall in love.
Places, objects or people are not always real. Don't get too attached, this is not a rule but a reminder.
Complete a challenge frequently to survive.
Every choice has a price.
The third death is real. If you have died twice in the game, protect yourself because the third death won't only be in the game but in the real world as well. If you kill yourself in the game then you will fade away in the real world as well. So please, don't try to end your own life in the game.
Trust is a weapon. The more you betray players, the higher your chance of winning the game'.
'Wait what?! Betrayals? Why?'
'I'm afraid I don't have an answer to your question but this is a very helpful tip for you'.
'You mean killing others is a good thing?'
'Oh no, I never said that but if you can't kill others then they will kill you'
'What?'
'May I continue?'.
'No, I don't get this at all'
'You will, soon. please listen'
'Alright'.
'One life, one identity. You can only live with one identity in a life except if you become a special player'.
'Special player?'
'There's a feature that allows a player to become special which exempts them from some of these rules'.
'Really? How do I become a special player?'.
'That's an impossibility Harper'
'Why?'.
'Nobody has ever been a special player. If you still wanna go for it then that will be a discussion for later'.
'Oh'
'One last thing. remember that the gamekeeper is always watching. So, don't act too smart'.
'I got it christopher. Is that all?'
'If there are more, I'll let you know but that's all for now'
'Ugh! The rules are crazy!'
'I didn't set them'
'What do I do now?'
'I'll tell you about this world and what you have to do'.
'Okay, please go on'.
'Sure. In this world, you're a secret agent for the government. Your job is to catch criminals and solve some cases but here's the disadvantage, you don't get credit for your work'
'What do you mean?'
'You only get paid for your work but you don't get recognition. The government only needs you to clean up their mess'
'Wow, what a horrible life. It can't be as bad as living with a drunkard right?'
'I don't know about that'.
'What about my family? Don't I get a family in this life as well?'
'You do have a family in this life. You have a mother, your father died while working on a case for the government, that's the reason why you're also a secret agent. To find out who murdered your father and to avenge him. You are the breadwinner of the family and you have two siblings'
'Two siblings?'
'Yeah. An older brother and a younger sister. Your mom is terminally ill and has few years to live but she doesn't tell you and instead, she is mean to you so that you won't find out'
'Really? I have a mom in this life and now, she has to die as well?'
'Unfortunately, yes. You ended up here while carrying out your first mission. You were chasing a criminal and ended up in the mud. He escaped'
'Who is he?'
'That's for you to find out'
'What do I do now?'
'That's up to you. You'll have the memory about this world soon. In a few hours'
I guess I have to wait till then.
I have understood a bit about this world but I need to know more and now, I have to go back to my home and patiently wait to gain some memories about this world.
I walked back home with bare feet. It was very dark and when I finally got home, it was locked from the inside.
I went round the house and came to the window of a room. I suddenly felt the urge to jump inside and before I realized what was going on with me, I had already jumped in through the window.
'Wow, that was smooth'
'Oh shut up christopher'
I took a good look at the room. It was small, messy, and familiar. A study table sat in the corner, a single lamp casting shadows across its surface.
An open notebook lay there. Inside, a heading in red ink:
Mission #1: Missing Person — Priority Level: HIGH
I felt a strange pull. Not fear. Curiosity. Something in me was waking up.
I sat down and whispered to myself,
"So… what's next?"