“Loreleine? You’re her mother?”

I haven’t actually met her before, but If you told me that the lady in front of me was her mother, then I would believe you without a shadow of a doubt.

“Yes, I’m her mother. Don’t we resemble each other a lot?”

She smiles at me, as she puts down the stack of papers on the table

“You definitely look just like her, but more talkative and less hand gestures”

She found that last bit about the hand gestures amusing, as she outright laughs at her daughter’s quirk of conveying herself

“Ahaha, she’s a silent type for sure, much like her older sister and father”

“Eh? She has a sister?”

I always thought she was an only child, as she doesn’t talk much about her family… or even talk at all.

“We’re a family of four, though I wish they would talk a lot more. It get’s lonely when I’m the only one doing the talking…” she sighs

‘I wonder what their family dinner would look like?’ imagining Leticia asking how their day went and all of them would just nod and give a thumbs up or thumbs down when it didn’t go well

‘That would be amusing to see~’

She then goes behind the table and sits on the chair

“By the way, what's your name young man?"

I wonder if she'd think if my name was weird too?

"It's Red"

"Then, Red, how did you get to know my daughter?” keenly looking at my facial expression

She doesn't find it weird or amusing at all? Not even a tiny ounce of suspicion or doubt that my parents named me that way? In another matter, should I just answer her honestly or come up with a lie? If I did lie, then I’d have to follow it and make sure not to break the bullshit that's coming out from my mouth…too much work. And why would I lie in the first place?

“We were classmates back then. She was one of my friends”

“A classmate and a friend, I see…”

She puts on a blank expression for a few seconds, before looking up to me with a smile plastered on her face again

“So, her boyfriend?”

“How did you even come up with that!?”

Her smile goes wider

“As you know, my daughter doesn’t talk that much and I have no idea what she was doing or if she was in a relationship back then. Not even a single word about the names of her friends or classmates, so as a mother, I’d sometimes get curious”

She then points a finger at me

“And you’re the first known ‘friend’ of my daughter, that is, if you’re telling the truth?”

She was giving me another keen look

“We’re basically just friends who talk and hang out with each other. Nothing more, nothing less”

“Are you sure? My daughter’s a cutie and she’d definitely grow up into a fine beauty someday, as she inherited most of her looks from me”

“I’m pretty sure?”

“Doubting yourself I see” grinning wide at my answer

‘This woman…’

Yes, sure, Loreleine is cute and her quirkiness makes her a lot more interesting. But! I won’t get interested in someone just for looks alone. I’m not an impulsive hormone-frenzied teenager that only thinks about showing dominance, getting women, and sex. No, I’m more of a refined young man who can control his desires and inhibitions.

…

Or so I’d like to think of myself as one.

“Ahaha, okay-okay. Then let’s get back on topic. I heard you wanted to join our community?” she asked, while taking off the glasses that she was wearing and using a cloth to clean it

“Yes, I’d love to join if possible”

Otherwise, I’d just camp inside one of the abandoned buildings for the night, and if I still can’t find a community that’s willing to accept me, I’ll just change my sleep schedule, so that I’d be awake in the evening and asleep in the morning.

Vampire cook, asleep by day, cooking by night.

“You can, although you need to work to stay here”

Ah, of course, nothing in life is free nowadays.

“What kind of work?”

I just hope it doesn’t involve pleasuring men…I’d be fine if it were women, but I’d be happy if my rear end doesn’t hurt after I’m done working.

“I don’t know, tell me what kind of things you can do” cradling her head with one of her arms, as she looks up to me

What can I even do? My class may be a cook, but I mostly rely on the system for making food. I also don’t have any noteworthy skills besides my charming humor…I do enjoy fighting though.

“I can fight I guess?”

She raises one of her eyebrows at my answer

“You guess? You aren’t too sure if you can fight?”

“I had my fair share of fighting monsters here and there. I’m just a little rusty I guess”

Sure, I fought monsters in the game, but this simulation was still a part of it, so it counts right? And what better excuse to put out there when you fail than to say ‘I’m a little rusty, I need some practice’.

Her gaze intensifies, as she sits straight up on her chair

“Really now? This one’s a serious matter young man and I’d appreciate it if you tell me honestly”

What? Don’t I look capable of taking a few monsters by myself?

“I’m not lying though” taking on her gaze with my own

We stared at each other for some time, as both of us weren’t willing to back down.

‘Heh, I have practiced the art of staring with Alana day after day. You aren’t going to win this one’

After thirty seconds or so of staring, she was the first one to break eye contact

“I really can’t trust you to be one of the guards, since I still don’t know if you’re capable or not. So, let’s do this then…”

She rings a bell that’s on her desk, and the guard who was accompanying me before comes inside the room

“Yes, ma’am?”

“Miles, kindly tell George that he’ll be sparring with this young man tomorrow morning”

The man besides me scrutinizes my outfit one more time.

What? You think my outfit’s outdated? FYI, my style is in fashion right now. And a cloak that flutters in the wind looks so cool to look at, right?

His gaze deepens, as he looks at me smiling at him

What again? You’re charmed by my handsome looks? I know, I’m a charmer, can’t deny what God has given to the world. Anyone who stares at me get’s captivated, so stare all you want, there’s more to come.

“This scrawny looking kid and the captain?” looking confused and eyebrows furrowed, as he point towards me

Scrawny!? I’ll have you know, in the real world, I can walk by myself to the next room without needing any help, and only a few minutes of rest afterwards. How ‘bout that for a scrawny kid?

“Yes” nodding her head

She then looks towards me

“If you can prove your worth, then I’ll let you stay. Are you fine with that?”

Hey, look, more practice fights, so I can beat up others more efficiently in the future.

“Sparring? Sure, I’d be happy to do it” smiling as I reply to her

I get fighting experience and a place to stay, what a good deal indeed.

She then looks back at the guard

“Is there still space left in your quarters Miles?”

“There’s still a few unoccupied beds, ma’am”

“Give him a blanket and a pillow, he’ll be staying there for the night”

“Yes, ma’am”

I only get a blanket and a pillow? How about the customary free Wi-Fi, luxury food, and foot massages? This definitely won’t reflect well on your reviews later on. One out of five stars, will not recommend.

“There will be no customary free Wi-Fi, luxury food, and foot massages here. If you want those, then you’d have to find a way to get them by yourself” she answered

Oh, shit. Did I just say that aloud?

“Yes, you did”

I said that out loud again!?

She sighs once again

“Oh, ahaha. Just joking…”

As we were heading out of the room, I stopped and asked her a question.

“By the way, is Loreleine here?”

“Oh? Already going after, I see. What a bold young man and I like it”

“It’s not what you think!”

She shakes her head to the side

“Sadly, she isn’t here”

“Huh?”

If my teacher and her mother was here, then why can’t she or my other friends be in this simulated place also? Or is there a criteria for that?

“Then where is she?”

She shrugs, while putting on a lonesome expression.

“I don’t know, since we got separated when we were heading towards here years ago. But I started this community for when my family comes, so that they’d have a place to stay”

So, building a huge community just for the sake of your family’s return…I’d honestly do that too if the thought comes to mind.

“I’m not too worried though, since they’ll undoubtedly come back. My daughters are capable women and my husband has extreme luck that’s bestowed to him by the heavens”

‘What an optimistic woman’ I thought

“Go get some rest, we’ll call for you tomorrow. And if you really do plan to get together with my daughter when she comes back, then I’d have to drill into your head some self-restraint”

Ah, she’s already planning to groom me without my consent. What a wonderful mother you have here Loreleine.

“let’s go, kid”

“Oh, before you go, Miles, I need to have a word with you”

She called for the guard next to me before we could go out

“Go wait outside, I’ll be there in a minute”

Going outside of the room, the other guard who was informing the others to replace them was there waiting

“Where’s Miles?”

His name was Ben right? It would be rude if I got his name wrong, and it would be ruder if I just called him ‘Guard B’.

“They’re still talking inside”

After a minute of waiting, he finally came outside

“Hey, Ben. Can you show him to our quarters, while I go inform the captain about something?”

Ah, so Guard B’s name was really Ben.

“About what?”

“A sparring session tomorrow, I guess?” looking at me oddly

“Um, okay”

The other guard named Ben was also looking at me the same way

“Also, give him a blanket and a pillow. He’ll be staying there with us for the night”

I’m fine without the luxury food and free Wi-Fi, but I still want a foot massage. I need to relax before going into a fight, and what’s a better way of relaxing than getting a foot massage.

“So, you’re fighting with the captain tomorrow?”

Ben, asked me, while we were walking down the unmoving escalator

“Yup”

“Are you sure you’re up to it?”

“Yup”

I wonder if I could annoy someone by just answering with yup all the time.

“Do you even know how to fight though?”

“Yup”

“Really?”

“Yup”

“…”

After his last question, he doesn’t ask me another question. A shame that I couldn’t test if I could annoy him with my yups.

When we arrived at the second floor, I saw that people where now lounging around, waiting for the food to cook. I then saw Ellis walking towards us.

“You done with what you were doing?”

“Not yet, I still gotta get my pillow and blanket”

“What?”

“You know, stuff needed to sleep. Why? Don’t you have a pillow and a blanket?”

Tilting her head to the side

“Of course I do”

“Great, cause I won’t share mine with anyone”

She raises one of her eyebrows.

“I didn’t know you were such a selfish person”

“Nah, I’m just fooling around, I’ll be happy to share my pillow and blanket with you”

She raises her eyebrows again. What is it with people raising their eyebrows in disapproval anyway? Is it that much of a bother to just outright say ‘Me no likey’.

“Hmm? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to invite me to sleep with you. Too bad I’m not an easy to get lady”

Now that I think about it, She’s got a point. I do sound like I’m out to get women with what I just said. I should really research on better pick-up lines though, like ‘Did your dad have sex with a carrot? 'Cause you've got great eyes’ or something like that.

“Just think of it as me showing you how I value our long lived friendship”

“But we only just met a few hours ago?”

“Exactly”

Ah, it feels good to talk to someone close to your age again. It feel like it’s been forever since I last interacted with someone like this… though, I don’t really talk like this with my friends back then. I was more of a listener and let Dean and the other’s take the mic. I don’t know how to describe it other than the word ‘refreshing’ I guess?

“I’ll be right back after I check some things”

“Sure?” still confused on what we just talked about

“You done now?” the guard asked

“Yup”

Still ain’t giving up on the yups.

------------------------------------------------------------------

“Don’t forget to dodge when the captain leans his sword to the side, he’ll definitely go in for a quick strike if that happens”

I was now with Ben inside the living quarters of the guards, giving me tips on how to fight their captain. Their quarters was in a clothing store that was remodeled to fit several bunk beds, which were eight feet apart. With a few coat racks and bars to hang clothes with to the side.

Ben talked to me after I stopped answering with yups. And yes, he did say he was annoyed with my one word answers. He was a talkative guy, much like Luc when the topic was about women in skimpy outfits. We got along quite well in the few minutes when he was showing me around.

“Sure, got it”

“Good luck tomorrow, I need to get back to guarding the front”

“Okay, thanks for the advice”

We parted ways and I went to where Ellis was

“You done?”

“Yup”

I wonder if I could annoy her with my yups too.

“Yup”

“Yup what?”

…

“Nothing…”

I need to remember not to get too carried away. Otherwise, I might accidentally embarrass myself and inflict a critical strike to my psyche. I still remember when Dean, Luc, and I were spewing nonsense from our mouths in junior high… it wasn’t one of my fondest memory. Remembering it gave me the urge to curl up into a ball and dig a hole, so I could hide inside of it.

“You’re kinda weird, but that’s fine. I like someone that’s interesting”

Oh, she thinks I’m weird? I think so too.

“Keep it interesting, right?”

“Just don’t go overboard and go full on nutcase on me”

“Define ‘Overboard’”

Hey, I just wanted to make sure what her limits were on the subject. I’m not gonna push it any further if it disturbs someone.

“No creepy smiles or laughing outright without a reason I guess? Oh, and also speaking to yourself in a creepy way about how you’d want to watch the world burn or something like that”

Do I even make creepy smiles? Sure, I smile sometimes when I’m enjoying something, and I don’t really laugh that much except when I’m trying to taunt my enemy, so I guess it’s fine. But I do get the urge to watch the world burn. I just don’t have to say it out loud and everything will be a-okay.

In her own words, I am totally a nut case.

“No problemo~”

I can always feign ignorance when I do slip. World burn? You must have misheard me, because what I said was, ‘I want to watch curled worms’. Nothing beats boredom than watching worms on the ground curling themselves.

“By the way, what’s the job that ma’am Leticia gave you here?”

“Nothing yet, but she did say that if I could prove my worth tomorrow then I’d get to stay here”

“Eh? How are you going to do that?” she asked

“By sparring tomorrow with the captain”

She gives me another questioning look.

“Does it have to involve fighting? I mean, you could always try something else that can help the community, like cooking or sewing”

My class is a cook, but I’m a joke since I don’t even know the basics of how to cut a carrot properly and I’m all in the hack and slash department when it comes to handling knives. Sewing is kinda meh, me no likey.

“I don’t know, I haven’t really thought about it before. I only know how to fight and make sarcastic jokes about things that I see”

Sarcasm ahoy! Nothing beats a boring life than to find life to be ironic and mocking it in it’s face, I mean, besides watching curled worms that is. That shit is exciting.

“Besides, if I can’t stay here, then I’ll just find another place”

It’s not like this is the only shelter inside the city. I could always find one tomorrow morning if I fail. Think positive! Never give up!

“Hmm…”

She ponders for a while, with a look that says ‘What kind of idiot am I looking at right now?’

“I just can’t leave you alone, I guess I’ll help you out when that happens” sighing while she looks at me

Ah…

‘Doing so much for a stranger like me. She’s such a kind person’ I thought

If I met her in real life, I’d definitely give her a mug with the words printed on it ‘#1 FRIEND’. Sorry Dean, old bud, you’ll always be in my heart, somewhere in the atria maybe. But we need to make space for a new one, since the person in front of me is best friend material.

“So, what do you guys do here when it gets dark?”

“Nothing much really. I’ve been here for over a week now and all we did was chat or gossip about how the price of potatoes keep going up”

“What are you talking about? That sounds super exciting to me”

Mr. and Mrs. Potato would be one popular couple if they were here. People would flock them, asking how much they’re worth per pound.

“Sure it is” feigning excitement at how interesting potatoes were

She was catching on to my sarcasm fast for a person I just met today.

“Besides that, I hope you can talk the other party into submission tomorrow”

My sarcasm’s already rubbing off on her I see. But talking with the other party into submitting to me…

“You know what, I can try”

Maybe my yups can make a comeback tomorrow.

“I’d love to see that happen” still not taking what I said seriously. I don’t blame her, since I don’t even take my self seriously anymore too.

A smile forms on my face

“I’m sure you will”

After she said that, we talked about some trivial things to pass the time until the food was finished. Mostly about how people were still wearing suits these days, I mean, I just couldn’t get over the fact that they were still wearing suits. It just annoys me to no end that they couldn’t find anything more appropriate to wear in this setting than wool and cashmere suits with neckties.

“Let’s go to the cafeteria, food’s about to be served”

As we were heading to the cafeteria, we saw a long line spanning from the inside of it, going down to the escalators to the floor below.

“Now that I look at it, there’s a lot of people here”

My words were drowned in the sea of noise from the crowd, talking with each other

“This is the same for all of the other big communities out there. At least this one has free food, unlike the others that I heard people talk about”

“Then why aren’t most people going here then? I’d say having no food problems on a daily basis is a huge relief for most people”

I mean, what else is there to worry about than getting your fill for the day by stuffing yourself with potatoes. Contrary to what people know, potatoes have more potassium than a banana, though you can’t eat it raw.

“From what I heard, others offer a safer environment, where they station about a hundred people per shift in their own territory. Also, some of them will teach their people how to fight and survive in dangerous situations, like basic combat, hunting stuff, or even fishing”

Ah, give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man how to fish and he will sit by the dock for a few hours, waiting for something to bite, but indefinitely giving up and ask you for another piece of fish again.

“That sounds great, but I’d rather have free food given to me instead”

Beggars can’t be choosers, but I’m still getting something by the end of the day.

“Yeah, me too. That’s why I’m here right now” showing a smile

After waiting and chatting for ten minutes, it was finally our turn to get our food. It was a soup inside a bowl with chunks of vegetables and fish in it, with two fist-sized bread to the side. This is definitely good for a free meal, as I like to eat fish a lot more than pork or beef.

“Where should we sit…” searching for an empty table or vacant seats

“There aren’t any spaces left, we should just find a place outside” she said

We walked outside of the cafeteria and made our way to the non-moving escalator to munch on our bread

“This is better than I expected, I thought it would just be hard bread that’ll just fill you up with no taste whatsoever” happily devouring the two flaky and crisp bread on my tray

“It’s because we have a few bakers in our community and they’re also using wood fired ovens that someone built at the back of the mall”

I then moved on to eat the fish soup, though it tasted good, it was just a little bit too salty for my tastes

Finished with eating, we put the tray and bowl into two separate bins next to the cafeteria, we then went back to the unmoving escalator and sat down

“So, what do we do now?” I asked her

“I don’t know. What do you want to do?” she returns the question

Downside of being a person who mostly just listens and goes along with the flow is that you can’t decide things on your own. To be, or not to be, that isn’t a question, that’s just two phrases that don’t make sense.

“How about we talk about life and how it fucks you up in the strangest ways?”

It might not be one of the best topics out there, but it’s a start.

“Sure, how about you go first and I go afterwards”

“I was hoping that you’d go first. You know the saying, ‘Ladies first’” playing the ladies first card

She shakes her head to the side

“No, I insist, and I believe in gender equality” and she counters with the gender equality card. What a great counter play against my ladies first card.

“Okay then…I never met my parents since way back when, giving me up on someone’s door step that I’m assuming they didn’t know, but at least they covered me up with some newspapers and cloth so I won’t die from the cold winds of winter”

Hey, it’s still caring even if it’s just newspapers

“Though, I don’t hold it against them when they left me to someone else because of some reason or another. I’ve been happy under Mrs. Lane’s care and also the other kids at the orphanage. There’s also Dean and my friends who I met when I was growing up. Overall, it’s been a fun and happy life”

“Uhmm, now that I think about it, should we continue with this?”

She asked

“We could stop if you want, it’s just to pass the time anyway”

It was about twenty minutes past eight when I glanced at the giant sand glass near a pharmacy on the second floor

“But you already told me yours…”

“Hey, you don’t have to if you don’t want to. No one’s going to force you to do it”

She looks up for a while

“…I lived a normal life, just your ordinary neighborhood girl that you’d find anywhere. I had a happy family back then, but my parents separated when information about my mom cheating on my dad reached him. I saw my mom doing it once with some tall guy a long time ago, but she told me to keep it a secret, so I did, like an obedient little girl”

What the hell did I just start… I should’ve made the topic about suits again.

“I was just eight years old back then, my mom took care of me and my dad moved to an apartment near where he works. I had a few close friends that I used to hang out with from time to time, but we grew apart a few years later when I went to live in a different place with my dad. He found out mom was frequently using drugs and inviting over different men every day when I was at school. Mom was a wreck back then, and I didn’t even notice when she changed. Shortly after, we found out that she killed herself by jumping on the fourteenth floor of the company building that she used to work for”

“I think we should stop“

She didn’t listen and continued to tell her tale

“Dad didn’t go to her funeral, although he didn’t want to show it, I heard him crying a lot in his room. Then I thought to myself, what if I noticed it sooner and stopped mom, would there still be a chance to bring my family back together? I gave it a long and hard thought, curling up in my bed, I didn’t even go out of my room for a whole week just thinking about it. Dad kept worrying that I didn’t eat anything for a few days, so he called in a therapist for some help. It was frustrating to see my dad setting his things aside when he still has his own problems to handle”

Well, shit…

“After talking with her every day for three months, I realized that it wasn’t my fault. That I should just put it all behind me and move on, to live a happy life for my mom and dad”

If I knew things would get this dark, then I should’ve just kept quiet and sung something in my head. It means no worries for the rest of your days. It's our problem-free philosophy, Hakuna Matata!

“I should’ve returned to school after that, but strange things happened, and those fakers started to appear”

“Oh…”

Am I a thoughtless person? Maybe I should’ve thought things through before I started spewing shit out of my mouth. Arghh!

“My dad and I traveled towards here a year later when word spread about a city to the south that wasn’t touched yet. He didn’t make it through the journey though…”

‘This is your fault. Be a man and console her at least!’ something screamed at me in my head

“I’m sorry I brought it up” putting my hand on her shoulder

She smiles towards me

“It’s not your fault. I needed an outlet anyway, and when you mentioned about how life fucks you up, I just let it all out. So, thank you for listening”

“I still feel kinda bad though…”

There’s still this nagging voice in the back of my head that’s telling me ‘You’re a piece of shit for letting her remember those things’. And I agree with it a hundred percent.

“Then just make it up to me later on” she smiled sweetly and I could even notice that her eyes were slightly red

“Sure thing. Just tell me what it is and I’ll get it done!” standing up as I puff out my chest

Doing something that Dean might do

Hey, it might be Dean we’re talking about, but his stupid gestures have a great effect sometimes…sometimes.

“I’ll remember that then. Don’t go back on your word though” she also stood up

“I’m a man of my word, so just ask away. I’d even assassinate the president if you so wished”

Is the president even alive in this place?

“Don’t be silly. I’ll only ask you to get rid of the senate for me”

Shit, that’s more people. But their security might be far less than the president’s…

“Why are you looking so serious? Are you really planning to do it?” raising her eyebrow

“I mean, if you really wanted to…”

As I said, I am a man of my word. I definitely won’t break any of my promises. If assassinating the whole senate was what you said, then so be it.

“I was just kidding!” waving her arms at me

She then sighs after a few seconds of looking at me

“Oh, ahaha. I was just kidding too(I was dead serious on it)”

I didn’t notice it, but the place around the second floor was getting crowded again. Most people were done eating their food and going outside of the cafeteria.

“How about we change locations?” she said

“Where? The first floor’s also crowded and people are moving towards the third floor too” looking at the people moving up the unmoving escalators

“I got a place in mind. Follow me” she grabs my hand, as she leads me through the crowd of people

We went towards a janitor’s closet

“This definitely isn’t the kind of place I imagined you’d bring me to” looking at a mop and bucket on the ground

“This isn’t the place silly. We need to go up using the ventilation shaft” taking a few boxes and stacking them up. She then started to take the metal cover that was covering one of the shaft’s entrances and put it to the side.

“Follow me” climbing up and going inside of it

I followed behind her, as she crawled inside the vents. Her butt was shaking in front of me each time she moves

‘Oh, Lord. Forgive this sinner for seeing such wonderful things, but may you bless me so that I may see such a wonderful sight again someday’ I made a small prayer while we continued on

After crawling in the vents for a few minutes, we then made it to the end, but it now goes upwards

“Up?”

“Yup” putting her back against the vent’s wall and using her feet and hands to push and go up slowly

“I’m thinking of humming the burning fuse from the mission impossible movies”

“Hum away” as she makes it to the top

I did what she just did, but I hummed while I was doing it. It made what I was doing one hundred times more exciting than just going up without it.

Arriving at the top, I saw that she was already kicking the metal filter that was covering the vents

“Mind helping me a bit”

She scooted to the side, so that the both of us could kick the filter together

After twenty synchronized kicks, it finally gave in

“We’re finally here”

I went outside and saw that we were on the rooftop.

“They chained the door that leads to here, so I went on finding a way to get up. Found the ventilation shafts, but I couldn’t kick the filter out”

She then sat at the edge of the building

“At least you get to see it now” sitting next to her

I looked at the city where I grew up. It was dark outside, save for a few lights that were moving on some of the ruined buildings. The place was too quiet, making it look eerie in my point of view.

“I guess it’s time to lay down and watch the stars” she said, lying down next to me

“I always go star gazing when I was a kid with my parents. It helps calm me down whenever I have a lot of things to think about”

With nothing interesting to see in the pitch-black city, I joined her lying down and watched the stars

After five minutes of star gazing

“This is a nice change of pace” I said aloud

“A change of pace from what?”

Most of the recent memories that I had were about being killed by anything that I come into contact with in the game, two weeks of comatose, my best friend leaving, getting left behind in the game, and my growing hatred for eight legged arachnids. There’s also the fact that my attitudes slowly changing. I noticed my use of vulgar words growing in frequency by the day, how I get irritated faster than before, and whenever I got hurt, it felt kinda nice. There’s also the fact that I sometimes want to humiliate anyone who get’s in my way.

Oh, and one last thing that I just noticed a few hours ago, hurting others doesn't weigh a lot on my mind anymore, to the point that I'd even do it wilingly when the cause is trivial.

I know it's just a game, but they could still feel pain whle inside of it.

“From everything” looking up at the stars, twinkling in the night sky. Not a care in the world as they shine brightly, illuminating the dark sky.

This game is definitely doing me more harm than good…and I like it.

“Ah, who needs beds, blankets, and pillows? I’m sleeping under the stars tonight” putting both my hands behind my head

“I’d be happy to join you” she said

Who cares if she’s one of those fakers. She can kill me all she wants, I don’t give a rats arse anymore. I’ll just sleep it all away. And even then, death is mostly just a momentary emptiness anyway.

I then closed my eyes

“Goodnight Ellis”

“Goodnight Red, sweet dreams” was the last thing she said