The knock came again. “Dex? You in there dongsaeng?”

Dexter let out a huge sigh and heaved himself off the couch. “Je-won?”

Zoe cursed in relief, hand to her heart.

“Yes,” Je-won answered from the other side of the thin door. “I saw your scooter. Thought you might be hungry.”

Dexter opened the door and found Je-won standing on the stoop of the second-story landing. And he wasn’t without gifts. He held a large pizza box in front of him, and the smell made Dexter’s stomach rumble with hunger.

Je-won Yun was in his early thirties, and, being Korean, looked even younger. He had a welcoming face and was usually always smiling.

But not now.

“Brought you dinner.”

“Hyeong!” Dexter surprised himself by hugging the man.

“Whoa,” Je-won said, holding the pizza away and patting Dexter’s back with his free hand.

Dexter released him. “Sorry, it’s just—”

“It’s fine. I heard about the attack at school.” He chuckled without humor. “I guess everyone has by this point.”

Dexter nodded. “Yeah. It’s good to see you. Come in.” He stepped away to let him inside.

“Oh, you have company,” Je-won said on entering.

Zoe waved at him. “Hey Oppa. Thanks for scaring us like that. Pizza makes up for it though. I’m starving after waiting in the hospital all day.”

“Hi Zoe.” He turned to Dexter, his smile returning, and gave him a wink. “I’ll just leave this with you.”

“It’s not like that,” Zoe assured him. “My future boyfriend’s been kidnapped by the Men in Black. And we thought you were them.”

Je-won’s smile vanished. “I heard about that too. People who used the system to alter themselves being taken.”

“You heard?” Zoe asked. “I didn’t take you for the type to buy into conspiracies.”

“It’s not a conspiracy. Nara saw some students being taken away. You didn’t notice?”

Zoe glanced at Dexter.

“I did,” Dexter said. “At the hospital too.” Nara was Je-won’s younger sister. She was a grade ahead of them, so had graduated last year. “What was Nara doing at school?”

“Picking up Jason.” Jason Kang was Nara and Je-won’s cousin. He was in Dexter’s history class.

“Glad to hear he’s okay,” Dexter said. “I lost track of him after the attack. Was that what you texted about?”

“Not exactly.” Je-won set the pizza down on the coffee table, took a seat on the couch, then looked at both of them in turn. “Have either of you… used it?”

“No way,” Zoe said, scooting her chair closer to the coffee table, popping open the pizza box, and grabbing a slice. “I'm not crazy.” She leaned back, took a huge bite, and moaned. “So good.”

Je-won looked at Dexter, raising an eyebrow.

Dexter shook his head. “I never signed my name.” This wasn't a lie, but he still felt bad. He wanted to tell Je-won the whole truth. He wanted to tell both of them. He wasn't sure why he was keeping it to himself.

Again, he suddenly thought of being alone in this apartment. Exploring the system by himself.

Alone. He didn’t want to be alone. He’d had enough of that.

He sighed and took a seat on the couch next to Je-won. “Zoe,” he said to her solemnly, “you need to keep this between us.”

She froze in the process of taking another bite of pizza and leaned in, interested. “Keep what between us, Dexter?”

“I’m serious. You have a bad habit of sharing secrets.”

“That’s what they’re for.”

He glared.

“Fine.” She crossed her heart and zipped her lips. “Won’t tell a soul.” She took another bite.

He let out a breath. There was no going back once he told her. But she wasn’t a liar. If anything, she had the opposite problem. “I didn’t sign my name, but I did join the system.”

“What does that mean?” Je-won asked.

“I don't know. In the school auditorium, when that thing attacked, it just stared me down. I got a achievement or title or something. I got a message saying welcome to the system.”

“You joined the system?” Zoe asked, chewing. "I didn't take you for an idiot.”

“It sounds like he didn’t have much choice.”

Dexter nodded. “Yeah. I didn't try to join it, it just happened without my input."

“Have you explored it at all?” Je-won asked.

“I haven’t had the chance. After the attack I was at the hospital waiting to see Leah and I didn’t want to draw attention to myself—there were police and FBI—and then I came straight back here.”

“Then I think now might be the time to do so.”

“Why?” Zoe asked, polishing off her slice and going for another.

“Because it has… benefits.” Je-won held out his fist as though he were holding an invisible ice cream cone, except there was nothing in his hand.

“Uh,” Zoe said, “are we—”

Suddenly a shape materialized from his hand, extending out up into the air, as though little nanobots were forming an item of gleaming silver and gold.

Dexter and Zoe watched in awe as a massive sword that glowed with a laser edge formed in the smiling pizza-maker’s hand.

“No way. Bad ass, Je-won.”

“You joined the system?” Dexter asked.

“Yes. Like you, I did not have much choice. I was forced into it, but not in the same manner you were. That monster that attacked your school wasn’t the only one in Havenport.”

“Did you fight one?” Dexter asked.

Je-won nodded.

“With that?” Dexter gestured with his chin at the sword.

He shook his head. “Unfortunately not. I didn't have this when I fought it. I was forced to use a pizza peel.”

“A pizza peel?” Zoe asked incredulously.

“Yes. When you were down there stealing my beers, I don't suppose you noticed the mess in the dining room?”

Zoe stiffened, her face going red. Her arm shot out in Dexter’s direction. “He said you wouldn't mind.”

“Oh sure, just blame me.”

“I will. Because it's true.”

“It's fine. There are bigger problems to worry about than some teenagers getting buzzed.”

Zoe took a bite of her pizza then held out her beer, tipping it in Je-won’s direction. “Cheers to that,” she mumbled through a full mouth, then guzzled some beer.

“So you actually fought one of them,” Dexter said, thinking. “And if you have a sword, I’m guessing you beat it and somehow got money or something?” He recalled what Matt had called them after his clothes had disappeared in class when this had first happened. “Credits? Or was it a reward? Did you get a title? Did you try anything else? We should—”

Je-won chuckled, holding up his hand. “Okay, okay. Slow down.” He laid the sword across his legs, edge pointing away from Dexter. “Yes, I received credits and experience—or points, not sure they’re the same. But that’s not how I bought this.” He waved his hand over the blade. “I received a title, The First Slayer, which awarded me it. Though I wasn't the one who struck the first blow.”

“Who did?”

“Nara.”

“Hold up,” Zoe mumbled, swallowing her pizza and washing it down with a swig of beer. “You and your sister fought a monster together?”

“Yes.”

“And then you come bring us pizza?” She looked at Dexter. “Remember what I said about the previous landlord? I think it might apply to the current one as well.”

“You think he’s a serial killer?”

Je-won’s eyes widened. “What?”

Zoe snorted. “No, I meant crazy.” She laughed. “That’s funny though.”

“I’m glad you think so,” Je-won said under his breath as Zoe continued laughing. To Dexter he added, “You may want to cut her off.”

Dexter nodded, but Zoe shook her head and waved her hand to ward him off. “Sorry. I’m fine. It was just— The look on your face. It’s just kinda crazy that you two fought a monster together and then you just go on like a normal day. Is she down there or did she go home like a normal person?”

“She was hurt,” Je-won said softly.

Zoe's humor melted away. “Oh… Je-won I'm sorry. I didn’t— Is— How is she? She’s okay, right?”