1: The girl who lives in shadows
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"You! Where did you go again? Your school keeps calling me. Instead of recuperating from your injury, you're spending time doing unimportant things!" Before even entering the house, Fei's mother's nagging voice greeted her. Fei only remained quiet, because she knows that once her mother starts, no one can shut her up. As she was about to enter her room, Fei noticed something placed above the coffee table.
Did someone visit her mother?
Her brows furrowed when she saw a shopping bag with a familiar luxurious brand. Her mother isn't the type of person to buy luxurious things, she can't afford them.
"Mom, who gave this to you?"
Without even waiting for her mother's answer she hurriedly opened the bag and saw a red pouch accompanied by a letter inside. Her hands started trembling from an undisguised anger when she saw a small smiley emoticon in front of the letter. It's a crying face.
~~
Dear Auntie,
Please tell Fei that we're sorry. It was an accident, and no one expected that to happen. Please tell her to go to school soon.
Love, Tara
~~
Fei's vision started turning red while she crumpled the letter furiously. The pouch in her hand was suddenly snatched away.
"What are you doing?! This is expensive!" Her mother spat out hatefully, and glared at her.
"Why did you accept it?"
"Why not? It's a gift, and they said they're sorry." Dry laughter came out of Fei's mouth.
"Mom, they are my bullies, they bullied me! A simple sorry and an expensive gift can't make up for that!"
"What pride is that? Just simply accept it and move on! They are your friends!"
"Mom! You don't understand!"
Seeing that her mother seems to close her mind and will only regards her burst out as being prideful and making up excuses. Fei hurriedly went inside her room and slammed the door shut.
She hates them! She hates her mother and everything! She knows those people bullied her, yet she dares to accept their gift because it's expensive? Isn't that betraying Fei's trust?
With tearful eyes she turned on the computer and decided to indulge herself in games like she always do in search for comfort. Which the world couldn't gave her...even her mother.
Thud, thud, thud!
A series of loud thuds outside the door disturb the peaceful corners of the room.
"You're locking yourself again? Come out here! We need to talk, Fei!"
"I hate you!" Fei screamed back in anger tired of her mother's pushy attitude.
"They said they're your friends! They said they want to apologize!"
Fei ignored her and looked at the screen hatefully. The screen lit up, but it was only white.
Was there something wrong with this game?
She heaved a deep sigh and tried to calm herself. A few seconds later, her mother stopped banging on the door outside, and it became quiet. Only the monitor's sound could be heard.
It was eerily quiet. The screen continued displaying a white screen, and she was starting to get annoyed.
Is this thing broken?
This was a game she had bought two weeks ago but still hadn't played. It had a white cover and was conspicuously placed in the 'Popular Games' rack. Just as she tarted thinking that the game was broken, the theme song started playing. It was just lagging. Then, words began appearing on the screen.
Game Loading...
...25%
...50%
...100%
Game Successfully Loaded.
Enter the number of participant.
[ ]
The game loading took a while. When she started becoming impatient again, the game finally loaded. Fei typed the number '1' in the space box that appeared on the screen, and then... the screen turned dark!
She's now sure this game isn't popular at all! It's defective!
She was close to smashing the screen when a pixelated child wearing a shrimp costume appeared on the screen, and next to her was a dialogue box.
"Hi! It's me, Kiko. I'm a little upset right now because in three days from now--it will be our Halloween party, but I have nothing to wear. Will you help me find my Halloween costume?"
[Yes] or [No]
This kid really thinks she's stupid? She's clearly wearing a shrimp costume! Isn't that a Halloween costume?
Fei hurriedly clicked [Yes], and the shrimp girl let out a "Yay!" sound. The next dialogue appeared. She wanted to skip it, but there was no option displayed on the screen, so she helplessly let it be.
"Thank you so much! Mother would be thrilled when she hears that you're a good and diligent person! Mother hates lazy people after all--so she'll be happy to have you here!"
"If you're ready to go, just click 'Yes'!"
Are You Ready?
[Yes] or [No]
When Fei clicked [Yes], the room suddenly started spinning. Was it just in her head or the room was literally spinning? She tightly closed her eyes because it was making her feel dizzy. Then a mechanical voice was heard--it was speaking right into her head.
"Scenario: Halloween Costume Party
Game Summary: Kiko's class decided to hold a Halloween party, and her mother was thrilled. She bought numerous costumes for her beloved daughter. However, there was a specific theme for the Halloween Costume Party, and the costume Kiko was supposed to wear had gotten lost.
Mission: Help Kiko find her holloween costume.
Mode: Easy
Additional Tip: Survive for 3 days"
She quickly opened her eyes from shock and soon found herself standing in a dark and narrow corridor. Then the door of the farthest room opened, and a small child peeked out.
"Mother said that you'll help me find my Halloween costume. Why are you still standing there?"
Fei gasped inwardly when she noticed the familiar child. Isn't that Kiko from the game? Although this one looks light a real child right now, not pixelated. Does this means... she's inside the game? That's absurd! Is the kid an NPC?
"Get in here quick before she finds out you're being lazy. Mother hates lazy people."
She didn't hesitate to enter her room. Based on the games she'd played before, it's safer to follow the rules. She'll do this first, before thinking how to return back. The game said that her mission was to help Kiko find her Halloween costume -- so it seemed safer to go with her than the unknown mother.
The room was brightly lit and full of different toys and books -- everything was outright messy, just like a normal child's room. The only thing that didn't sit right with this was the pile of dresses and costumes in the left corner of the room.
"Are those all your costumes?"
The child climbed to the far edge of the bed and sat down.
"Yes, Mother bought all of that for me."
"Then... what Halloween costume are you trying to find?"
The child glared at her with a look that said -- are you stupid?
"Didn't you suppose to know that? You're a maid after all."
Just like that, the mechanical voice rang out again. Fei looked at the child, she didn't seem to hear it. Is she the only one who could hear it? Is it because she's a player and Kiko's part of the game?
*Ting!
"The player has triggered the game conditions!"
1. The player must help Kiko find her Halloween costume.
2. The player has only three chances to submit the Halloween costume.
3. Failure in guessing the right costume in the first and second attempts involves minor punishment.
4. If the player uses up the last attempt and failed to submit the costume, the player will trigger a major punishment.
5. Submit the Halloween costume and survive.
"Good luck!"
"What are you doing? My Halloween party will be in 3 days!"
The mechanical voice finally quieted down, and she came face to face with Kiko again. Her eyes shifted towards the clock hanging on the wall and it says 2:05 PM and then 2:15. Her eyes narrowed for a second before realizing something. Time was moving at a fast speed!
She quickly heaved a deep sigh before diving into the pile of costumes. Kiko wore a shrimp costume in the game introduction so Fei dedicated her time in finding the shrimp costume.
She almost yelped out in surprise when she successfully found a shrimp costume. Fei didn't waste any chance she have and decided to submit the costume.
"I think I found the Halloween costume. I want to submit this."
Kiko looked at Fei, shocked. Then the mechanical voice replied ominously, "Wrong. The player had triggered a minor punishment."
It's not the right costume? But it's clearly a shrimp!
*Clack, clack, clack.
The sound of footsteps hitting the floor echoed outside in the hallway. It was very heavy, as if the person was mad.
"Oh no! Mother is here! Quick, hide!"
Kiko shouted in fear, then scrambled her way under the bed. Fei looked at her then at the door with a sense of foreboding. Did this minor punishment involve Kiko's mother? Fei ran towards the door at a quick speed. She remembered that she hadn't locked it when she entered! The footsteps were getting closer!
When Fei tried to lock the door, she found out that the door knob was missing! It was there a moment ago?!
She have no choice but to use the shelf to block the door. But then she stopped midway when she heard the footsteps stopped right outside the door. Fei gritted her teeth painfully and quickly searched for a weapon to protect herself. She found nothing, so her only resort was to grab the broom. Then someone pushed the door harshly.
"Lazy bastards! I'm going to beat you hard!"
That doesn't sound like what any sane mother would say