《INSCRIPTED REALITIES》 CHAPTER 1: FRACTURED MEMORIES Would things have been any different for us if I''d known the truth? Or would my younger self, driven by misguided vengeance, have gone through with it anyway? Would he have ignored your suffering, just to ease his own? But I know it''s useless to wonder... Haha, if you knew I''ve been thinking about this, you''d probably curse me out. Or would you have laughed? Or maybe, just maybe, you''d also stop to wonder, what if...? I''ll never know. Even if I wanted to ask you, I can''t. And it''s all my fault. Because I started writing, and I enjoyed it. I''m sorry, I''m so sorry. I know you''ll never forgive me, that you can''t forgive me. Good, you shouldn''t, because I won''t either. Now, this is all I can do to make it up to you.
11 Years Ago Darkness swallowed the night sky, stars hidden behind dark clouds swirling ominously. Silence filled the highway, save for an engine whirring as a 2004 black Chevrolet Impala drove by. Its headlights were the only thing illuminating the wide roads. That is, until bright streaks of lightning slashed through the sky, followed by deafening thunder, startling a child sleeping in the back seat. Just as his head began to droop again, a rhythmic clop, clop echoed as the rain started to tap against the car¡¯s roof. It steadily grew into a heavy downpour that drummed on the vehicle. ''The forecast didn'' say nothin'' bout any rain today, much less a damn storm,'' grumbled the man sitting in the driver''s seat. ''Language, please...dear'', gently reprimanded an Asian woman, ''Our Jun is sitting in the back,'' she reminded. The woman turned to smile at the little boy sitting in the back, accentuating the creases at the corner of her deep brown eyes. Her skin shone in the night as she tucked a strand of her long black hair. The sleeve of her navy blue dress slipped to her elbows, contrasting sharply with her pale skin. Jun noticed the woman was looking at him with his eyes half-closed, ''Moooom! Are we there yet!¡¯ he whined, dragging out the words. The woman''s smile deepened, her eyes arching as she said softly, ''No, love. Not quite yet. Why don''t you go back to sleep and by the time you wake up we''ll have arrived.'' Jun sighed, rubbing his blue eyes. ''But mom! You said that before too and I''m awake but we''re still not there!'' ''Now son,'' his father''s deep voice cut in, ''don''t talk back to your mother. Just do as she says. You''re already 8! You''re a big boy now, aren''t ya?'' Jun pouted, crossing his arms, ''Yes...'' he whispered. The woman crossed her arms, leaning back slightly, as she watched exchange between father and son. A soft chuckle escaped her lips. Jun narrowed his eyes at the sound of laughter, thinking he was being made fun of. While the man turned his head to look at her, trying to maintain a serious expression as his lips twitched, the corners of his mouth curled upward. Seeing this, Jun''s face scrunched up, cheeks flushing as his eyes filled with tears. He turned away to look out the window with a huff, kicking the seats in front of him. Noticing his actions from the corner of her eye, the woman flicked her eyes toward Jun, slightly tilting her head. The man nodded, taking one hand off the steering wheel, and turned to face Jun. He rested an elbow on his seat while keeping the other hand on the steering wheel. The woman''s eyes widened as she saw this, ''Jake, dear, keep your eyes on the road, please'', she cautioned, her voice tinged with worry as she placed a hand on his shoulder. ''Relax, Heewon, '' Jake smiled, turning his head to look at her. ''There aren''t any other cars on the road.'' Jun felt the air had grown thick and suffocating. It also seemed like their hair was standing, but he didn''t think too hard about it. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Jake took a deep breath, pulling at his shirt before he turned back to the boy, ''Listen, son. Ya know we love ya, but ya gotta listen to us. One day, you''ll be a man, and you won''t have me or ya ma to look over ya or tell ya what to do. We only want what¡¯s good for ya. So-'' ''BOOM!'' His words were cut off as a blinding light flashed before them, striking down on the road. Heewon screamed. Jake whipped his head around, slamming his foot on the brakes, but it was too late. A bolt of lightning had struck, forming a crater in the road ahead. The tires screeched at Jake''s attempt to stop the car, but it was too late. The car lurched violently, skidding on the broken asphalt, and spinning out of control. The roof caved in, windows shattering as shards of glass flew through the air. The seat belts strained to hold them in place, pressing against their chest, the last threads, giving them a chance at survival. Jake shouted, ¡®The airbags!¡¯ whipping to look at his dashboard, screaming, ¡®Fuck!¡¯ The car crashed into the railing, hurtling over the edge. The family''s blood-curdling screams filled the air, eyes widening when they saw the upright jagged pipes at the bottom. Heewon¡¯s voice cracked as she shouted, frantically reaching for the back, ¡®Jun, get down! Jun reflexively followed her instructions, dropping down on his stomach, and turning his face toward his parents. The pipes pierced through the windshield, impaling the couple in the front seats. Blood splattered across Jun''s face as he stared, wide-eyed, at the rods piercing through the seats, dripping with his parents¡¯ blood. The storm raged on, the dampness clinging to his skin. The stench of the rain, mixed with the rusty smell of blood filled the air, seeping into his lungs. Pain radiated through his shattered limbs, each labored breath causing his injuries to throb. There was silence, except for the drumming of the rain and his pounding heart. The world continued as usual, unaware of the tragedy that had struck this family of three. ''M-mom? D-dad?'' Jun choked out but was only met with silence. He sat frozen in the wreckage, too terrified to see what had become of his parents. Tears streamed down his face as he sat alone in the wreckage. His sobs were drowned out by the merciless rain, hammering on relentlessly. His small frame was lost amidst the cold metal, shattered glass, and lifeless bodies that had once been his world. He was alone.
The relentless drumming of the rain faded, replaced by the tap-tap-tap sound of something in his ears. ''...Jun''. a muffled voice echoed in the distance, calling out to him. ''...in Jun!'', the voice got clearer, the familiarity made his chest feel stifled. ''Min-Jun!'', a shrill female voice seemed to tear through his eardrums as a burning pain throbbed at the back of his head. My eyes snapped open as a blinding light filled my vision. I sat up with a jerk, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I squinted at the harsh glare of the classroom''s fluorescent lights, rubbing the back of my head with a frown. I could still feel the blood on my face, but when I touched my cheek it was dry. It was just a dream. Though it didn¡¯t feel like one, not really. My heart was still pounding so hard I could hear it. The voice came from right beside me, pulling me from my haze. ''Oh, I''m sorry. Is my class boring you?'' It asked politely. I jolted, whipping my head to the side as I stared in shock at the Asian woman standing beside me. Her imposing figure towered over me casting a huge shadow. She looked like a toad to me, wearing that green dress. Her dark as her soul hair was pulled into a tight bun, not a loose strand in sight. Her glaring eyes, hidden behind rectangular glasses, looked down at me with pursed lips. I immediately lowered the hand rubbing my head, sitting up straight with my arms at my sides. I didn¡¯t want to as I could still feel my legs trembling, but I had no choice if I didn¡¯t want to make this any worse. I glanced at the thick book she raised in one hand while resting the other on her waist. It was probably the reason my head was throbbing. ''I-Im sorry, teacher'', I mumbled, looking at the floor. She sneered at me, ''Even if it is boring you, deal with it! Don''t let me catch you dozing off again or else!'' She spun sharply and marched to the blackboard, the sound of her heels clicked sharply against the floor. I let out a breath I hadn¡¯t realized I was holding, slumping back into my seat. My arms crossed, and I stared blankly at the front of the room. But the images from that dream wouldn¡¯t leave me alone. It still felt like I was back in that car. That I never left. I blinked hard, shaking my head, and sighed heavily. My heart was still racing, as I clenched my hand into a fist under the desk until my knuckles turned white. I bit my lip, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth, but the trembling wouldn¡¯t stop. Those images kept floating in my head, overlapping with reality. I could still hear the rain, the screams... the crash. I tried to drown them out with the teacher¡¯s grating voice, the creaking fan, the ticking clock. I breathed in the classroom¡¯s stale air, the scent of chalk and old books, hoping it would drown out the memory of the smell of blood and rain. I kept reminding myself that it was all in the past. That what I saw was just a dream - a nightmare - that never goes away, a constant reminder of what I¡¯ve lost. I glanced around at my classmates, whispering and giggling. It felt like I was watching them from behind a glass wall¡ªclose enough to see, but too far to touch. Figures. For them, it''s just another day of middle school. But for me, it''s another day of pretending I''m okay... I''m not sure I ever will be. To be continued...
CHAPTER 2: CORNERED PREY The sharp, metallic clanging of the bell jerked me from my thoughts. The chatter died as students scrambled to pack their stuff. The room descended into chaos as they dashed off for recess. The sound of creaking furniture being shoved aside gnawed at my nerves. I scanned the room as it emptied, silently taking a piece of bread from my desk. I could still hear the muffled chatter in the distance, while I sat alone with the ticking of the clock. I nibbled on the dry texture that was far from satisfying. If anything, it tasted like paper, but it was still better than starving. I forced it down before they found me. After all, let¡¯s face it. I can¡¯t catch a break. My ears pricked as the thumping of footsteps echoed through the hallway. The sound getting closer and closer until I caught sight of the source. No, please. Not yet. I felt my stomach sinking, and my chest felt heavy. My heart raced as a lump formed in my throat. My eyes darted as I scanned the room for a place to hide but the only escape was jumping out the window. My hands trembled as I took a deep breath to mentally prepare myself. I was ready to take action but it was too late. Shit. I made eye contact. I had only gotten halfway through the damn bread when this piece of shit came waltzing in to ruin my peace. He called to me in an annoying tone, filling me with dread. ¡®Min-Jun-ie~ There you are! I¡¯ve been looking for you.¡¯ Seong Daekyu, the all-rounder perfect handsome little shit, loved by all. The teacher probably ran out of words to praise him. But little do they know, he¡¯s nothing but trash. A bully, to say it simply. Who loves to prey on easy targets. In this case, me. The orphaned loner. Daekyu tilted his head, extending a hand as he curled a finger slowly. His lips curled, eyes glinting dangerously. My eyes widened, my heart pounding as cold sweat dripped down my face. I tried to bring the corners of my lips up, my eyes narrowing as I forced a smile. What will I do now, you ask? Well isn¡¯t it obvious? Run. I frantically stood up, flung my lunch at him, and leaped out the window beside my seat. This is gonna hurt. My knees buckled the moment I hit the ground. I gasped as a sharp pain shot through my ankle as it twisted under my weight., I stumbled forward, limping into a nearby alley hoping to hide. I leaned on the rough brick wall for support as I continued moving forward. A foul stench filled my nose. I looked ahead to see a dumpster, deciding to hide behind it till the end of recess. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. That¡¯s when I felt someone grab my shoulder. I was pulled and shoved as my back collided against the wall. A sharp pain radiated through my spine. I felt my breath stuck in my throat as I gasped, struggling to breathe. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth as I accidentally bit my lip. My vision momentarily turned black, as the world around me spun. My eyes watered, as a dull throbbing ache in my back. I¡¯m screwed. I heard a low chuckle to my side, but I couldn¡¯t turn to look because of the pain. But then, I heard his voice. ¡®How rude~ you ran away as soon as you saw me and refused to look at my face.¡¯ A hand grabbed me by the hair and pulled my head back. I felt a sharp sting run through my scalp, almost like it was being torn off. The force of the jerk, strained my neck aggravating my throbbing spine. I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to scream out. Daekyu¡¯s voice dropped. ¡®I¡¯m hurt¡¯. I struggled to look at him through my blurred vision. Suddenly, a deep, crushing pain spread out from my gut as I doubled over in pain. I gasped, feeling nauseous. It felt as if my insides twisted, the pain throbbing and radiating through my midsection. I lost strength in my legs. The hand pulling my hair loosened and I fell to the ground clutching my sides. It hurts. All sorts of thoughts raced through my mind at that moment. It¡¯s unfair. Why me? Why is it always me? Did I do something wrong? What, just what did I do¡­ to deserve this? It was an overwhelming feeling. A feeling I was already familiar with as I struggled to get back up. My hand pushed at the ground, my muscles straining as I tried to get up still clutching my stomach. I don¡¯t know why I did that. I knew if I just stayed down they would¡¯ve beat me up and left when they got bored. All I had to do was¡­nothing. Nothing, just as usual. But for some reason, I felt so much rage, so much¡­hatred. The dream from earlier flashed across my mind, the smiling faces of those I¡¯ve lost forever. If they were still here, they would¡¯ve protected me. I wouldn¡¯t have to experience any of this. I clenched my fist. But they¡¯re gone. There¡¯s no one who can help me. I¡¯m alone. I¡¯ll always be. I tremblingly got on one knee, my vision clearing as I looked up and saw Daekyu and his lackeys. They were smiling. They¡¯re enjoying this. I snapped. I knew the consequences I¡¯d face, but I felt like I had no control over my body. I don¡¯t know where I got the strength but swung my fist at the lackey next to me. He easily caught it, clutching my fist before throwing it aside as I felt a prick. I had a glance at it. He had strands of hair hanging from his fingers. I shoved him back with my all, a scream piercing through my throat. I lost it. I wildly swung, uppercut after uppercut, missing my mark. My fist moved clumsily through the air, unable to meet its target even once. They laughed. I must¡¯ve looked like an idiot since I was always the one getting hit. I¡¯d never fought back, not even once. ¡®W-why?!¡¯ I choked out. Daekyu smirked. ¡®Hm~ Why, you ask?¡¯ He chuckled. ¡®Because I can.¡¯ It felt like a weight pressed down on my chest. I felt suffocated. I don¡¯t know if it was the pain or helplessness. I cried out, ¡®FUCK! FUCK YOU! WHY CAN¡¯T YOU JUST LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE! I raised my fist again, jolting as I heard a familiar man¡¯s voice. ¡®What¡¯s going on here?!¡¯ he shouted. The questioning voice had pulled me out of my frenzy. I turned my head and froze, my arm still raised. Crap. It¡¯s the gym teacher. Everything paused for a moment. From the corner of my eye, I saw Daekyu narrowing his eyes as he smirked at me. Shit. To be continued¡­
CHAPTER 3: TWISTED TRUTH Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. CHAPTER 4: SILENT REBELLION I sat at the table across from Principal Jeong, looking at me over her glasses. She rested her arms on the surface of the table, interlocking her fingers. ¡®Mr. Kim, I hope my leniency doesn¡¯t make you ignore the severity of the accusations against you¡­¡¯ Figures. Here I thought she was different. I pursed my lips, silently looking down at my hands. That she would listen to my side of the story. She sighed causing me to whip my head up to see her taking off the glasses and setting them aside. ¡®I didn¡¯t ask you here to reprimand you.¡¯ I raised an eyebrow as she continued. ¡®I understand how unfair you must feel all this is. No, I can¡¯t understand. I just know. ¡®She shook her head, taking a deep breath. ¡®But that¡¯s unfortunately how this world is. In front of people in my power¡­we¡¯re helpless. All we can do is-¡¯ The room felt cold, tension weighing down on me. I felt my heart squeezing. I clenched my fists, as I sharply cut her off. ¡®That¡¯s only because people like you let it happen even when you know the truth! Because you let them have power over you, over us! You are the authority to prevent just that, but what chance do any of us have if you quietly bow your head down to them!¡¯ My chest heaved, as a lump formed in my throat. She closed her eyes, leaning back in her chair. ¡®I used to think like you too. I carefully investigated the truth and punished those who did wrong always striving for Justice. But with time I understood it¡¯s never that simple.¡¯ She paused, rubbing her temples before she continued with trembling lips. ¡®Even if you stand up to them today, all you¡¯re doing is risking your future or someone else¡¯s. If you keep quiet now, you only need to deal with the consequences at the moment. But if you fight, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll be too much for you to handle. So, it¡¯s best to leave the punishment to Karma. One day, their actions will haunt them.¡¯ Her eyelids slowly lifted, looking me in the eyes. ¡®You¡­are too young to understand.¡¯ Excuse Me?! I clenched my jaw, feeling my stomach twist. I knew the person sitting in front of me had the power to screw me over. This show of empathy might have been all just a ploy to get me to stop seeking justice. But the frustration I felt made my chest feel heavy. I blurted out. ¡®Yeah, good excuse to make yourself feel better. You¡¯re just like the rest¡ªtalking fairness, too scared to act.¡¯ She glared at me. ¡®Mr. Kim¡¯, she warned. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. I couldn¡¯t stop. My nails dug into my palm. ¡®If we keep quiet now, he¡¯ll become worse. If it''s not me, someone else will suffer. And if I think of this as the easy way out like this. If I decide to live my life like this, only hope that one day Karma will come for him.¡¯ I was trembling, furrowing my brows as I continued. ¡®Sure, middle school will be over. But there will always be another Daekyu out there. So tell me, Respected Principal, how long do I have to keep running?¡¯ She heaved a heavy sigh, pursing her lips. ¡®I was afraid you¡¯d say that¡¯. She drummed her fingers on the tabletop. ¡®I can see you have a lot of rage pent up inside you¡­you know, for me, it always helps to write.¡¯ I tilted my head, raising an eyebrow at her words. She crossed her arms, avoiding my gaze. ¡®It always helps to write when you¡¯re angry. You can make up a story, imagine the people who hurt you are the characters, and¡­make them suffer by your hand within the pages because that is all you can do to safely relieve your frustration when you¡¯re powerless to fight back. It¡¯s also productive. Good for your writing ability and-¡¯ I had an ominous feeling. My breath hitched as I interrupted her. ¡®What are you on about?¡¯ She shook her head. ¡®I tried to make you understand, but since you refuse I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ My eyes widened at her words when I heard a loud crash as the door swung open. I jolted, whipping my head around. My heart dropped at the scene. My ¡®family¡¯ was here. Principal Jeong cleared her throat. ¡®As you must¡¯ve heard, he is in dire need of discipline.¡¯ I glanced at my adoptive dad to see him glaring at me, his eyes red. I¡¯m fucked. I turned toward Principal Jeong to see her avoiding my gaze. She pointed her chin at me. ¡®Please teach him well.¡¯ My ¡®mother¡¯ nodded frantically. ¡®Of course. No need to worry. Oh, I don¡¯t know what happened. He¡¯s usually a good kid. But I will talk to him. Please excuse us.¡¯ She grabbed my arm, yanking me up and pulling me out. She squeezed my arm, her long nails digging into my flesh. My ¡®father¡¯ followed closely behind. She pulled me to the car and gestured for me to open the door. As soon as I did, I felt a hard impact against my back. A sharp, stinging pain shot through it as the blow landed right where I¡¯d been hurt. I gasped, my breath hitching as my vision blurred for a moment. My knees buckled, and I fell straight onto the backseat, a low groan escaping before I could clamp it down. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth as I felt a sting from my lip. The door slammed behind me after which the two got into the front seats. The car sped ahead, my body trembling. Flashbacks of that night surged, anxiety mixing with pain. Sweat soaked my back. My ears rang, their voices a distant hum. I couldn¡¯t understand any of what they were saying except their distorted expression when they turned around, seeming to yell through the tears blurring my vision. My heart raced, and I felt suffocated. I could vaguely make out a few words. ¡®Burden¡­nuisance¡­ embarrass¡­waste of time¡­our child would never¡­if it wasn''t for the inheritance¡­should¡¯ve died.¡¯ I closed my eyes, a tear slipping out and staining my cheek as I waited to get to that place. When we got home, they pulled me out of my daze. My ¡®father¡¯ grabbed me by the neck. He dragged me up the stairs and threw me in my room. ¡®Don¡¯t even expect any food after what you pulled. Fucking embarrassment!¡¯ I lay there for a while, numb to everything. I watched as the sun slowly set from the window. My surroundings turned from bright to orange before they descended into darkness. I took a deep breath and forced myself up. Each part of me throbbed in pain. I sat on the ground, tucking my knees against my chest. My hands trailed through my hair as I yanked at it. The frustration and rage crashed down on me. My chest ached, a weight pushing down on it. There was a lump in my throat. My nose stung as drops of tears fell. I clenched my jaw, wiping my face. I stood up and turned on the light. I scanned the room till my eyes rested on a pencil and notepad lying in the corner. I slumped down on the floor and started scribbling. The ominous scratch of pencil on paper echoed in the silent room. And that¡¯s where it all began¡­ To be continued¡­
CHAPTER 5: FLAMES OF VENGEANCE 10 Years Later¡­
It hurts. Please¡­someone kill me. Let me die. I clawed at the ground, the skin on my hands peeling away as I tried to move, but the flames raged on. My skin blistered, melting away in blackened patches. For a moment, all I could hear was the crackling of fire. Time slowed each second stretching into what seemed like a long time. The heat clawed at my skin, burning through my muscles. The air was filled with the stench of scorched flesh. My vision blurred, and the fire dried out my eyes. Every breath I tried to take filled my lungs with blistering heat, flames engulfing my being. The searing pain suffocated me as it dug deeper into my bones. I wanted to scream but the unbearable pain made it impossible as I choked, the taste of blood filling my mouth. My nerves screamed in agony, my mind begging for mercy. This is it. There¡¯s no escaping this. The flame of vengeance doesn¡¯t stop until it consumes the soul of a living being. I felt something cold on my wrist, the heat and pain seemingly subsiding. Is this it? Am I dying? There seemed to be muffled voices from the surroundings but I couldn''t make it out in my daze. For a moment, I blacked out and the world seemed to be a blur and the pain was gone. Is this nightmare finally over? I jolted as a loud shriek startled me to consciousness. I stirred, turning my head back to see the chief.
¡®And that was the latest chapter by the best-selling author, Mr. Kim Minjun! That was truly thrilling. Really had me for a moment there. But the readers want to know¡­what¡¯s next for Seong Daekhui?¡¯ asked a man in a white dress shirt, sitting in front of a camera with wide eyes. A faint breeze swayed the curtains as sunlight poured into the minimalist living room and onto the face of a handsome Asian man. The corner of his lips curled as he stared straight into the camera lens. ¡®Guess¡¯. The man chuckled, shaking his head. ¡®Still won¡¯t give us an inch, huh?¡¯ I shrugged my shoulders with a smirk. ¡®I¡¯ve said this before, Joe, even I don¡¯t-¡¯ Joe finished, rolling his eyes. ¡®Even you don¡¯t know what¡¯s going to happen next. Yes, we know about your writing trance.¡¯ He leaned back and crossed his arms. ¡®How long are you going to continue with that?¡¯ You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. I sighed, raising my finger to scratch my itchy nose. ¡®It¡¯s true though, I have no idea what direction this story¡¯s headed in¡¯. Of course, he¡¯s gonna suffer all his life and die a horrible death. Joe raised his eyebrows. ¡®You can¡¯t be serious?¡¯ I tilted my head, raising the corners of my mouth. ¡®I am, though. It¡¯s been like this since after the first chapter. I wake up and see the chapter¡¯s done but I don¡¯t have any memory of writing it.¡¯ Joe furrowed his brows. ¡®Wait. This wasn¡¯t a joke?¡¯ This again? I started with a general idea in mind but¡­it¡¯s like my body decided to take over at some point. I shook my head, taking a deep break. ¡®Yeah, it¡¯s like some weird sleep-writing thing. Creative psychosis or something I guess.¡¯ I shrugged my shoulders. It¡¯s been this way for a long time now. I started writing for a release but now I can¡¯t stop even if I want to. Joe pursed his lips and asked. ¡®Well, it¡¯s been a great hit since the first chapter with the main character, living a truly successful life as a pro gamer when the gate to another world appears bringing on the apocalypse for his world.¡¯ I nodded my head, looking toward the camera with a smile as he continued. "We''ve followed his story for a long time now, it¡¯s already been 10 years. We''ve watched as he¡¯s suffered all this time, going through numerous ordeals, and losing everything he loves over and over again. We¡¯ve laughed and cried with him as he¡¯s endured through it all.¡¯ I raised an eyebrow, watching Joe tearing up. Well, he is based on someone I hated. The purpose of his existence has always been for me to vent my frustrations, that¡¯s all. So, what did you expect? Joe took a deep breath, staring straight at me as he continued. ¡®Will¡­he have a happy ending at least.¡¯ I bit my lip and took a deep break clutching the armrests as I leaned back. ¡®You mean to ask me if he¡¯ll save the world, marry the girl he loves, and grow old together or something?¡¯ He clenched his fists, staring wide-eyed as he nodded frantically. ¡®Yes, yes! Exactly! I mean, he is with someone right now so it looks as if it¡¯ll go in that direction!¡¯ In your dreams. I chuckled, turning at the camera. ¡®Find out in the next chapter.¡¯ Not like I know either, but I can guess because no matter what happens the story still follows the general outline in my mind. Joe¡¯s mouth gaped, and he hit his knee. ¡®Oh, come on!¡¯ I smirked, shrugging my shoulders. Joe sighed. ¡®Oh well guess we¡¯ll wait and see. That¡¯s it for the questions. Thank you for joining us.¡¯ Joe stood up and extended his hand toward me. I looked up with a smile, standing up as I adjusted my clothes and shook his sweaty palms, raising an eyebrow at him. His eyes widened as he slightly bowed his head at me. I slowly blinked my eyes at him. I let go as he quickly wiped his hands on his clothes and reached into his pockets. He took out a handkerchief and handed it to me. ¡®I¡¯m sorry. I just get really nervous. Thank you so much for today!¡¯ I raised a palm, shaking my head. ¡®No, don¡¯t worry. I get it. But can I ask you to leave if we¡¯re done? I need to get started on the next chapter.¡¯ And wash my hands with disinfectant. He shot up. ¡®Yes of course! Please do sir.¡¯ He bowed his head, as he frantically packed the equipment, picked up his bags, and waved one last time before bolting to the door. He clutched the doorknob, looking back one more time to nod his head, and walked out slowly closing the door behind him. I sighed, slumping down on the chair. Finally peace. Damn YouTubers. To be continued...
CHAPTER 6: WRITER鈥橲 CURSE I shook my head and went to take a quick shower, putting on comfy loungewear before sitting down at my desk to write. I took a deep breath as I stared at the blank document on the screen, biting my lip. My heart raced as I raised my hands to begin. It¡¯ll be okay this time. My hands slowly inched toward the keyboard as I gulped. I pursed my lips, hands trembling as I touched the keyboard. A sharp pain shot through my skull and I blacked out.
My eyes widened as I turned toward the chief¡¯s line of sight. ¡®NO!¡¯ The flames were raging, towering high as they engulfed a small figure in the center. It¡¯s her¡­ I jumped forward, reaching toward the flames as an arm came over my chest holding me back. I flailed, kicking at the ground, reaching out for the burning figure. ¡®Please, no! Stop this! Let it take me!¡¯ A rough voice growled in my ears. ¡®We can¡¯t let you do that. You¡¯re the hero, the prophesied savior. Only you¡­cannot be allowed to die.¡¯ I screamed out, my throat sore. My heart pounding as a weight pressed down on my chest. I stared wide-eyed, trembling. The arms squeezed harder as I tried kicking the person behind me. ¡®We¡­are sorry. She was willing to do this for you. To save you. Don¡¯t let her sacrifice go in vain.¡¯ A wailing shriek came from the fire, making my stomach knot. I felt nauseous as the screams got louder and more painful. I knew what she was feeling. I kept wildly trying to jump in. As long as I get there in time¡­it can take me. She can live. And I¡­can be free. My nose stung, eyes watered as tears streamed down my face dropping on the arm below making it loosen for a moment. I broke free pushing the person behind me as I leaped forward when a weight pressed on me, holding me by my neck as my cheek scraped the ground. Why?! Please¡­not her. Tears trailed down the side of my face onto the ground. ¡®NO! LET ME GO! LET ME SAVE HER! Please¡­I-¡¯ I stopped as the screams died down. No. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. I stopped struggling, craning my neck to look up. There was nothing left. Not her, not the flames¡­nothing. She¡­was gone. I screamed out as I clutched my palms. The hand holding my neck let go, the weight on my back disappearing. I pounded on the ground feeling a lump in my throat. My fingers dug deeper into the earth, trying to grasp something¡ªanything¡ªbut there was nothing left but silence. ¡®We really are sorry¡­but for the sake of mankind, it had to be done.¡¯ The chief¡¯s voice sounded. I crouched on my knees, hitting the ground wildly, as tears dropped down. ¡®Why?! Why me?!¡¯ I screamed, fists pounding the earth. ¡®Why is it always me?!¡¯ WHY?!¡¯ I screamed at the ceiling. ¡®Everyone I care about always ends up like this¡­why?¡¯ I trailed off as my voice choked. My lips quivered as I sobbed. ¡®Whoever is up there, whoever¡¯s written my fate like this¡­what did I ever do to you¡­to deserve this?¡¯
I blinked, staring at the screen of text. The last paragraph was showing Daekhui¡¯s reaction to losing his lover. My eyes narrowed, lips curling as I read through it. Just as planned. Then, my brows furrowed as I leaned back in my chair. But, it happened again¡­ I sighed, eyes shifting back to the last sentence on the screen. ¡®What did you do¡­hmm well nothing¡¯. I chuckled crossing my legs. ¡®You¡¯re existence from the beginning was only for the sake of me venting my frustration, over someone I hated¡­someone who doesn¡¯t matter anymore.¡¯ I looked down at my hands. ¡®Now you just suffer because¡­you can. Because it¡¯s a release for me. Because I can.¡¯ Suddenly, I had a piercing headache, my ears ringing. I held my head with one hand as my vision turned blurry and I felt suffocated. I struggled to reach my phone on the desk to call for help. But as my trembling fingers reached the table I heard a voice. ¡®W-what? Because¡­I-no-you can? How¡­is that a reason?¡¯ The voice questioned through choked sobs. I felt a shiver run down my spine as the pain subsided. I whipped my head around, scanning the room. ¡®Who is it?!¡¯ There was not a shadow in sight but the voice rumbled again. ¡®How could you, whoever you are¡­for such a reason destroy everything I¡¯ve ever cared about? Kill everyone I¡¯ve ever loved and make me go through¡­so much? You are no god even if you do have this power¡­No, you are just a pathetic man boosting you¡¯re fragile ego by controlling my life and making me suffer under your hand because that¡¯s all you can do.¡¯ My lips quivered, heart pounding as I clutched the armrest. My mind raced trying to make sense of this unbelievably absurd situation. This isn¡¯t possible. The only one who can say this is¡­but how? Is this a prank? Is it that YouTuber? But how? How is this voice speaking in my head? Am I going crazy? I took a deep breath as my eyelids quivered. I clenched my jaw, looking straight at the blinking cursor flashing on the screen still displaying his question. I furrowed my brows and froze, the question lodged in my throat. This wasn¡¯t possible. It couldn¡¯t be. My heart pounded in my chest as I forced myself to ask. ¡®Who¡­are you?¡¯ There was a chuckle, growing into hysterical laughter sending goosebumps through my body. The laughter slowly faded, transforming into sniffles and sobs making my chest clench as the foreboding set in. It felt as if a heavy weight pressed down on my chest and an invisible hand tightened around my neck. My nose burned, eyes watered as I quietly listened to the voice. Then, it quieted down and eventually gave the unbelievable yet dreaded answer that changed everything. ¡®I¡­am Seong Daekhui.¡¯ To be continued...
CHAPTER 7: UNFORGIVEABLE SIN A lump caught in my throat as I choked out. ¡®Y-you¡¯re joking. This is a joke.¡¯ He chuckled. ¡®Well, I¡¯m sure to you my life really might be a joke.¡¯ This isn¡¯t possible. ¡®N-no way. Seong Daekhui is just the main character in my novel. He can¡¯t be real.¡¯ There was a loud thud followed by silence.
I banged my fist on the ground as the voice sounded. I stared down blankly, my mind racing. What? Does he mean to imply that I¡¯m just a character in his novel? That my life is fake? Fiction?! So what? All the shit I¡¯ve been through, everything happened just because some pathetic piece of shit had a whim¡­just because he wrote¡­? My lips trembled as I shakily turned back to look at them, my comrades standing behind me with tear-streaked faces, their shoulders slumped. My eyes darted to the cave walls, the ceiling, the ground¡­I carefully patted the sand, feeling the small rocks brush against my finger. I took a deep breath, the scorched smell still lingering in the air. He¡¯s saying¡­this is all fake? I looked at the ground before me, my chest aching as I stared at her ashes scattered, mixing with the dirt. Did she die just because of that? Her sacrifice¡­only amounted to that much? Just for the sake of ] someone¡¯s enjoyment, she had to die? Apparently, she wasn¡¯t even real¡­ I felt nauseous as I stared at my trembling hands, tears streaming down my face. I watched as the droplets fell, spreading over the area. How¡­how was that fake? Her voice, her laugh, her tears, her scent, every touch, everything about her¡­about all of us¡­How was that not real?! I crawled toward her, what was left of her. My knees scraped against the rough ground and I felt a slight burn with each movement. I extended my hand, fingers spread as I gently swept the grey ash toward me in a small pile. I stroked them, as drops fell in the pile. I chuckled. I guess this is one way to become one. I scooped up the remains, the grey dust slipping between my fingers as I brought it closer to my face and whispered. ¡®I love you¡¯. I brought her close to my chest, crouching down as my head brushed against the ground. I heard the chief¡¯s voice. ¡®I know¡­this is hard for you hero. However, we must quickly take away her ashes for processing.¡¯ I frantically shook my head. He sighed and continued. ¡®Hero, you know how valuable diamonds made from human remains are, especially those burnt alive from the flames of vengeance. After all¡­¡¯ He paused. I mumbled. ¡®After all, that¡¯s the reason I was betrayed¡­the reason she died. Because their power can help us win the war and save this godforsaken world.¡¯ Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Which isn¡¯t even real. I sat up, hearing the sound of heavy breathing in my head. I pursed my lips, clenching her remains in my fists and an arm backward. ¡®This much should be enough for two¡­please let me, let me keep some.¡¯ The chief sighed. ¡®Making only two¡­is too risky. We¡¯ll have to burn thousands for the same energy of one of these and if this fails¡­Please, hero, I beg you¡­¡¯ I looked up, shutting my eyes, and nodded, extending the other fist. The chief came forward and took out a pouch from his robe¡¯s pocket. He carefully collected the ash and swept it from each of my hands in the pouch. He crouched down, scooping the fallen dust into a small piece of cloth, tying it with a long string, and handed it to me. I looked up blankly. Did he have some mercy on me? He avoided my gaze and mumbled. ¡®This¡­is needed to the spell when we activate the diamonds. You are the prophesied hero¡­so you have to do it.¡¯ I took a deep breath, biting my lip till I tasted the blood. I looked up and said. ¡®Hope you¡¯re happy, you pathetic scum.¡¯ The voice sounded with a choked sob. ¡®Seong Daekhui, I¡¯m sorry¡­I didn¡¯t-¡¯ I sneered between clenched teeth. ¡®I will never forgive you.¡¯
I flinched at his words, and my hands trembled. ¡®I-I didn¡¯t know, okay. If I did I-¡¯ Is he actually real¡­? He sharply cut me off. ¡®What, you think that makes it any better? Just because you didn¡¯t know? I went through all sorts of crap, lost everyone and everything I cared about¡­just because YOU didn¡¯t know?!¡¯ And he went through all that¡­I put him through all that¡­ I pursed my lips, and tears continued slipping out the corners of my eyes. My heart pounded as I clutched at my chest, my hand sliding toward my neck. A crushing weight seemed to suffocate me, as I curled my fingers around my throat. I squeezed, choking out. ¡®I¡­I¡¯ll stop. I¡¯ll stop writing.¡¯ That¡¯s what I should do. For a moment, all I heard was the sound of labored breathing. He scoffed. ¡®You¡¯ll stop writing? Ha! Figures, since according to you the only reason I even exist is because you write! If you stop, what¡¯ll become of me?! My world?! Everything I¡¯ve been through, would it all be for nothing?!¡¯ He¡¯s right¡­there¡¯s no guarantee¡­ The sound of his panting echoed in my head. ¡®You may have decided when to start but you cannot stop just because you suddenly grew a conscience!¡¯ But¡­ I clenched my fists. ¡®But, I¡¯m not writing now and your world seems to move along fine.¡¯ He sighed. ¡®So, based on that reasoning you¡¯re prepared to risk my everything? What did I expect?¡¯ In that case¡­there¡¯s only one thing I can do. My nails dug into my palm, as I took a deep breath. ¡®Then¡­then, I won¡¯t write any suffering for you anymore.¡¯ I paused. ¡®I¡¯ll write¡­for everything to work out.¡¯ Yeah! I can¡¯t change the past but no need for the future to be just as miserable. Nodding my head, I looked up and stared at the text on the screen. ¡®I¡¯ll write for you to be happy.¡¯ There was silence on the other end for a few seconds, after which he carefully asked. ¡®Really?¡¯ ¡®Yes,¡¯ I replied. ¡®He gulped. ¡®My lover?¡¯ I nodded. ¡®I¡¯ll bring her back¡¯. He asked after a pause. ¡®My friends and family?¡¯ I jumped up, ¡®Them too!¡¯ He asked again, his voice getting louder. ¡®My world?¡¯ I¡¯ll fix everything. I leaned toward the screen, holding the monitor as my finger curled around both sides of the screen. ¡®YES! Everything will go back to normal! I¡¯ll write it that way!¡¯ He asked, voice trembling. ¡®Will you really do that¡­?¡¯ I promise you¡­ I leaned closer, forehead touching the screen, hands shaking as I replied. ¡®Yes, I promise! I¡¯ll fix everything.¡¯ And I promise myself. He gasped, shakily replying. ¡®Thank you. I still won¡¯t forgive you for everything you¡¯ve done but¡­for this, I am truly grateful.¡¯ I will definitely fix this. I closed my eyes. ¡®Yes, even if I didn¡¯t know¡­what I¡¯ve done to you is unforgivable. This is all I can do for you to atone for my mistakes.¡¯ Don¡¯t worry anymore¡­ I paused, looking at the blinking cursor on the screen. ¡®This is what I can and should do to make it right¡­and what you deserve.¡¯ Because I¡¯ll fix everything¡­ If only I knew that things weren¡¯t that simple¡­maybe we wouldn¡¯t have ended up this way. You wouldn¡¯t have ended up this way. I¡¯m sorry, I will truly be forever sorry to you. If¡­if I knew we were nothing but puppets of this twisted predetermined fate with no chance of fixing anything, I wouldn¡¯t have been so cruel as to give you false hope¡­only for it to be crushed. If only you could¡­I¡¯d tell you to blame me. But unfortunately, this fate isn¡¯t so kind. To be continued¡­ CHAPTER 8: NO ESCAPE He took a deep breath. ¡®Thank you.¡¯ I nodded at the screen before suddenly jolting upright. Wait¡­Shit. My eyes widened, my breath catching in my throat. I held my head, my fingers digging into my scalp. I looked down, pulling at my hair as I frantically shook my head. I forgot I had no control over my writing! What do I do? Do I tell him? After all those promises? Fuck! I messed up! Damn it! The sound of my pounding heart echoed in my ears as I bit down on my lips, the sharp pain bringing me back from my daze. I pursed my lips, shakily forcing myself to look back at the screen. I felt dizzy as my eyes scanned the horrifying contents again. Fuck me. I clenched my fists and started. ¡®Hey¡­¡¯ Suddenly, the screen flickered and turned black. I flinched, leaning forward till my seat nearly tipped, I tapped the screen with trembling fingers. Everything seems okay¡­ I gulped, letting out a breath. Maybe¡­maybe it could be another supernatural phenomenon. I sighed and asked carefully. ¡®Daekhui-shi?¡¯ I extended my arm and placed my palm against the screen, my voice cracking as I whispered. ¡®Daekhui-shi?¡¯ I stared at the empty screen, the warmth slowly fading. The feeling lingered on my fingertips, sending a shiver down my spine. No answer. My heart hammered as I tapped the screen harder, but still, no response. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. I slumped back into my chair, my heart pounding as I took a ragged breath. My trembling palms became clammy as I pressed them together. Rubbing them together, I breathed into them. My legs jittered, as I brought my hands closer to my mouth and bit the nails. What the hell have I done? I rocked back and forth, eyes darting around the room as I pursed my lips. I ran my hands through my hair, yanking at it. They trailed down to the back of my neck which had become damp with sweat. I felt nauseous. Breathe. Just breathe. I can figure this out¡­ My hands slid toward my thighs, wiping the sweat on the soft pajamas. I took a deep, shaky breath. Maybe¡­maybe I could try writing on a different device? I sat up straight, eyebrows raising, before slumping back down. No, I¡¯ve changed em before, it didn¡¯t do any good. I raised my arm and scratched my head. Then, maybe I could write it on paper first? No, that¡¯s how I started out, wasn¡¯t any different. I groaned, pushing my chair back as I paced around the room. The wooden floor creaked at every step, the sound scraping at my nerves. Ugh, I shoulda known something would go wrong. This wasn¡¯t normal, to begin with¡­but who would have writing trances and think, oh maybe what I wrote would become real?! I rubbed my face till my skin burned. My eyes watered and I shut them, clenching my fist as my nails dug deep into my palms. Seriously, why¡¯d I go ahead and promise?! I mean, of course, this couldn¡¯t go on¡­but even if it¡¯s by my hand it¡¯s not like I¡¯ve actually been writing this! I mean, at least not consciously¡­wait! I stopped, wide-eyed as my breath hitched. What if¡­it¡¯s not me at all?! Maybe I¡¯m just a puppet, a vessel? What if I¡¯m being possessed by some god?! Yeah, this isn¡¯t on me at all! I wasn¡¯t responsible for all this¡ª I looked down shaking my head as I chuckled softly. Oh, who am I kidding? Of course, this is on me¡­I¡¯m the one who decided to start this and so far the story¡¯s been going the way I¡¯ve wanted it to. Whatever¡¯s happening¡¯s been my idea from start to finish. I felt my throat tighten as I went back toward the chair and slumped down on it. I leaned back, raising my hand and rubbing my eyes. So¡­what if I change the plot in my mind. I jolted, sitting up straight. I mean, I do plan out my chapters, and even if I don¡¯t remember writing them the general outline is always the same! My heart raced, my lips trembled as I took a shaky breath. Yeah, that¡¯s it! All I gotta do is plot the outline in his favor! I¡¯ll¡­just make it so uh¡­ Turning my head, I scanned the room till my eyes stopped on a poster which said ¡®LIVE LAUGH LOVE¡¯ LOVE! Yes! His love touched the gods and they somehow brought her back? I nodded my head. Yeah, that makes sense! Of course! The power of love always works out! I¡¯ll do that! The corners of my lips raised, my eyes narrowing as I reached for a notebook. I¡¯ll fix everything¡­ To be continued¡­
Chapter 9: Bloody Betrayal I stirred as a bright light hit my eyes, my head throbbing. I forced my eyes open, furrowing my brows as a glare hit me. My head was resting on my arm as I squinted my eyes to see the screen flashing in front of me. When did I fall asleep? I drowsily raised my head, feeling dizzy as I straightened up. I glanced around, massaging my sore arm. ¡®You fucking liar!¡¯ Daekhui shouted, jolting me awake. I stared blankly at the flashing screen, extending my arm to move the mouse. The screen stabilized to show an open document, the cursor blinking before the words, ¡®To be continued¡¯. Daekhui scoffed. ¡®Hah, I should¡¯ve known than to trust you. Promise, my ass.¡¯ ¡®Huh?¡¯ I asked. ¡®W-what happened?¡¯ It can¡¯t be¡­right? There was a loud bang. ¡®How is this fixing everything?!¡¯ What¡­exactly happened? I flinched, leaning forward to read the contents on the screen. My eyes widened, as I grasped the sides of the monitor with both hands. My head touched the screen, and I shook my head. No, NO! What¡­how? Why?! I pulled back, slumping back down on the chair. ¡®I-I didn¡¯t-¡¯ ¡®Shut up!¡¯ He sharply cut me off, panting. ¡®You-how could you¡­¡¯
One Hour Ago¡­ I stood at the cave entrance, looking up at the sky. I sighed. Will¡­I finally be able to see the blue sky again? I stared at the red sky, orange clouds floating by. A huge rift opened in the middle from which strange creatures kept pouring out. It¡¯s been 10 years since Earth was invaded for its natural resources. I looked down at the barren ground, dried crops littering with the broken skeletons of those who once lived here. They took¡­everything. Killed and purged. We blamed our fate, we thought it must¡¯ve been a matter of time. I shook my head. Some thought this was the apocalypse, and others believed it was a calamity we could survive¡­especially after the prophecy. My nose burned as tears filled my eyes. I raised my hand and covered my eyes with a palm as tears streamed down. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. I believed¡­I was the hero. That¡­I could save the world no matter the cost. I took a deep breath. Who would¡¯ve thought this was all just the doing of one man. That we¡¯re just puppets dancing under his whims. I rubbed my face, closing my eyes as I clenched the pouch with her ashes in my damp hands. That we¡­weren¡¯t even real. I raised my trembling fist close to my lips and kissed it. But that doesn¡¯t matter¡­as long as she can come back. I brought her close to my chest. As long as I can be with her¡­I¡¯ll forgive him. If he can really make it all right. I looked back into the cave at my followers sitting crossed legs as the chief prepared the spell in the center¡­prepared the diamonds from her ashes. My heart ached, and feeling nauseous I turned my head the other way. As long as they can all come back and¡­our world can be saved¡­I¡¯ll forgive him. The chief cleared his throat. ¡®This is the moment we have been waiting for! The diamonds are infused with the power of death from the one burned alive from the Flame of Vengeance.¡¯ I turned to look at him as he paused. He met my eyes, flinched, and looked down. ¡®Her sacrifice¡­will be remembered. With this stone, we can cast the spell to close the rift and start anew in a new era of peace!¡¯ The people roared in applause. A man missing an arm yelled out. ¡®Yeah! Kick them out!¡¯ A woman stood up with the support of a stick, limping ahead. ¡®I almost died when ripped off my leg to see how it tasted.¡¯ She trembled, tears streaming down her face. ¡®Th-they took my baby¡­¡¯ She collapsed onto the ground. ¡®He tried to save me, so they bit his head off in front of-¡¯ She clutched her chest and passed out. The other rushed to help her to the side. Indeed all of us¡­are survivors. Not one of us here is someone who hasn¡¯t lost someone to those monsters¡­ I looked at an elderly woman hugging the grieving mother. Helda¡­saw her whole family being boiled alive and was left because that group didn¡¯t like the taste of older humans. I sighed and turned my head to look at an eye-patched man crouching in a corner. Seb lost his wife and mother while trying to save their daughter from an experiment. She ended up being ripped apart in front of him. I scanned the room, looking at every person. Each of them¡­has lost something. But will they really get it back? I gulped, my heart racing at the thought. My mouth curled when I heard a loud bang, followed by screams. My eyes widened. ¡®NO!¡¯ My breath hitched, staring wide-eyed at the scene. A rift had opened on the ceiling from where and a cloud of black smoke poured in on top of where the chief''s head was. Blood gushed out, splashing at the members as the chief twitched and spasmed. He dropped to his knees with a thud, falling on his side and convulsing. Blood pooled around him, quickly staining the sand red. The diamonds slipped from his hands and rolled to the liquid with a small splash. I tried screaming but no sound came out as I watched the clouds devour the members, one by one. Blood splashed around the room, their agonizing screams as their hopes were being trampled on. I tried to leap forward but a white halo trapped me in a bubble. Damn, this¡­what just because I¡¯m the chosen on-no just because I¡¯m the protagonist I get to live through this crap while they have to die?! I choked out, my throat constricting. ¡®N-no stop! Please stop! P-please¡­you promised! You promised! Why are they dying then?! Fuck you! Shit! How could you?! How is this fair?!¡¯ I dropped to my knees, pounding on the invisible wall as I watched the only people I had left in my life be dismembered and devoured in front of me. Their blood covered the walls as the pools slowly made their way toward me. I frantically backed away to avoid it, moving to the cave wall. I shut my eyes, covering my ears with my palms to shut out the horrifying scene in front of me. My heart pounded, stomach twisted as I felt suffocated. After a few moments, I shakily put my hands down to silence. I forced myself to look around to see they were all gone. The rift had closed and the creature had disappeared after the carnage. Not even their bones were left only the sea of blood remained as proof of what just happened. The diamonds! I leaped forward, crawling into the blood as I splashed around in the spot they had fallen. My hand was covered in red, I searched till I was soaked in crimson. Nothing¡­they¡¯re gone. It took them. I pounded on the ground shouting till my throat went hoarse. I got on my knees and looked up. ¡®You fucking liar!¡¯ To be continued¡­
Chapter 10: Broken Promises I stirred as a bright light hit my eyes, my head throbbing. I forced my eyes open, furrowing my brows as a glare hit me. My head was resting on my arm as I squinted my eyes to see the screen flashing in front of me. When did I fall asleep? I drowsily raised my head, feeling dizzy as I straightened up. I glanced around, massaging my sore arm. ¡®You fucking liar!¡¯ Daekhui shouted, jolting me awake. I stared blankly at the flashing screen, extending my arm to move the mouse. The screen stabilized to show an open document, the cursor blinking before the words, ¡®To be continued¡¯. Daekhui scoffed. ¡®Hah, I should¡¯ve known than to trust you. Promise, my ass.¡¯ ¡®Huh?¡¯ I asked. ¡®W-what happened?¡¯ It can¡¯t be¡­right? There was a loud bang. ¡®How is this fixing everything?!¡¯ What¡­exactly happened? I flinched, leaning forward to read the contents on the screen. My eyes widened, as I grasped the sides of the monitor with both hands. My head touched the screen, and I shook my head. No, NO! What¡­how? Why?! I pulled back, slumping back down on the chair. ¡®I-I didn¡¯t-¡¯ ¡®Shut up!¡¯ He sharply cut me off, panting. ¡®You-how could you¡­¡¯ My lips trembled as I stuttered out. ¡®I-I¡¯ll fix it.¡¯ If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡®You! Just¡­just stop.¡¯ He pleaded, his voice cracked. ¡®...Please.¡¯ There was a lump in my throat as I choked out. ¡®I didn¡¯t mean to-¡¯ A sniffle echoed in my head. ¡®I can¡¯t take this anymore¡­please.¡¯ He sobbed. ¡®If you want to kill me then have some mercy and do it already¡­¡¯ Because of me¡­All of it was my fault ¡®I mean what''s the point of continuing anyway? Everyone¡¯s already¡­¡¯ By my hands¡­No I flailed my arms, shaking my head. ¡®No! No¡­I-I didn¡¯t write any of that!¡¯ There was a bang and he panted. ¡®If¡­you did it¡­then at least own up to it, you fucking asshole!¡¯ I jolted, gulping as I tried to explain. ¡®You-you don¡¯t get it! From the first day, it hasn¡¯t-¡¯ ¡®Are you done?¡¯ he growled. My heart pounded, sweat dripping down my face. ¡®I really-¡¯ He cut me off. ¡®SHUT UP!¡¯ ¡®WILL YOU LISTEN!¡¯ I slammed my fist on the table, nearly hitting the keyboard. Panting, I shot up bringing my shaky hands to my ears. ¡®I didn¡¯t- I really didn¡¯t¡¯. I mumbled, shutting my eyes as tears slid down. But in the end¡­wasn¡¯t it?¡¯ There was silence on the other end, the only sound was the clock ticking in the background. Tick Tock. Tick Tock. Eerily echoing, my stomach twisted as each second went by. Finally, he took a deep breath. ¡®Explain.¡¯ My eyes lit up and I nodded. ¡®I don¡¯t remember writing at all. I just start and¡­it¡¯s all a blank.¡¯ I shouldn¡¯t tell him everything that happened¡­was my plan from the start. I continued shakily. ¡®W-when I wake up¡­it¡¯s already done but, but I¡¯m the only one here so-¡¯ ¡®Hah, so what? You¡¯re claiming you¡¯re possessed or something?¡¯ he mocked. ¡®I-I¡¯m telling the truth!¡¯ I explained. ¡®I fully intended to fix everything but the moment I started writing I passed out!¡¯ ¡®At least try to come up with something believable¡­¡¯ he sighed. I started. ¡®But it¡¯s true! I-¡¯ ¡®Then why¡¯d you give me hope?¡¯ he asked softly. ¡®Y-you believe me?¡¯ I asked, feeling the weight lifting off my chest. ¡®No¡­¡¯ My heart dropped. I¡¯m just giving you the benefit of the doubt so now explain.¡¯ My eyes stung. Even after everything¡­he¡¯s willing to listen. I paused, rubbing my fingers. ¡®I thought if I willed it-¡¯ He chuckled. ¡®What gave you the confidence it¡¯d work?¡¯ I paused, my heart drumming. He can¡¯t know¡­ ¡®So, everything up to this was your will huh?¡¯ he remarked. My breath hitched, as I brought my trembling hand to rub my face. He figured it out¡­ ¡®So I¡¯m right? Ha! And you were pretending to be innocent?¡¯ I whispered. ¡®I didn¡¯t know you were real¡¯. ¡®Sadistic bastard.¡¯ he retorted. I ran my hand through my hair, eyebrows furrowing. ¡®I-I¡¯m telling the truth I-¡¯ ¡®Save it.¡¯ He said flatly. I pursed my lips. ¡®Yes ok. Everything went according to my original plan and if it''s so you have to run or soon you¡¯ll-¡¯ You¡¯ll die a horrible death. He scoffed. ¡®I¡¯ll die?''. I paused, my eyes widening as I bit my lip. He let out a soft bitter laugh. ''Good. I welcome it if that¡¯s what it takes to end this nightmare.¡¯ To be continued...
Chapter 11: Void Beyond the Door My chest felt heavy as his words echoed in my head. ¡®But you don¡¯t deserve to-¡¯ ¡®No, I don¡¯t¡¯, he agreed. ¡®But you do.¡¯ My ears burned as I took a deep breath. ¡®I-¡¯ He continued. ¡®My suffering, the deaths of billions including everyone I¡¯ve ever cared about, the destruction of a world¡­¡¯ he paused. ¡®It¡¯s all on your head.¡¯ I felt nauseous, biting my lip as I looked down at my trembling hands. ¡®You¡¯re right¡­¡¯ Their lives, his world¡­the story I wrote just for a release. His existence was created for the sake of suffering, a puppet whose strings I pulled, unaware of the pain in every tug¡­no matter how I look at it¡­ My stomach twisted at the thought, and my knees felt weak. ¡®This is all on me.¡¯ How could I¡­even if he¡¯s fictional¡­how could I write something so cruel and enjoy it? My chest tightened as hot tears stained my cheeks before sliding down to my chin and dripping onto the floor. I¡¯m a monster¡­no that would be thinking too highly of myself¡­I¡¯m just as he said nothing more than a¡­ A weight seemed to press down on my shoulders. ¡®Sadistic bastard.¡¯ I mumbled under my breath. There was a moment of unnerving silence, the tension in the air thickening. ¡®Yeah, that¡¯s exactly what you are.¡¯ he concurred calmly making me wince. His agreement made my chest ache. I furrowed my brows, raising a hand to my face and rubbing my eyes. I started. ¡®I-¡¯ There was a loud banging on the door, jolting me from my thoughts. I looked up in a daze, quickly wiping my face. My voice wavered as I suppressed a sniffle to ask. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡®W-who is it?¡¯ There was silence soon followed by the banging becoming louder and louder. My heart pounded against my chest, each beat echoing in my ears. I asked again, my voice growing louder. ¡®Who is it?!¡¯ The eerie silence sent a shiver down my spine. I took a shaky breath and moved to the desk, reaching for my phone. My fingers hovered over the phone, the screen glowing as my mind raced. Could it be¡­my karma has come for¡­ I typed in 119 with trembling fingers. I gulped, eyes shifting to the text on the screen as I shut my eyes. Maybe¡­I can atone for my sins and finally end this pathetic excuse of a life¡­ A shudder ran through me as I thought of the weight of the sins I had unknowingly accumulated. It should¡¯ve ended that night¡­in the car. Why did I survive any of this¡­? What was the point? A cold sweat prickled my neck, sliding down my back. All I¡¯ve experienced since then is hell. Even the few years of success were apparently built over the blood and tears of an entire world¡­ They didn¡¯t deserve any of that¡­so maybe this is the way to do it. I nodded my head and whispered. ¡®Maybe this is the way¡­you can live. And I can make it up to you or at least give you some satisfaction¡­¡¯ ¡®What¡­do you mean?¡¯ he asked carefully. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding. ¡®There¡¯s someone at my door who won¡¯t answer when asked who it is¡­¡¯ ¡®So?¡¯ he asked confusedly. I furrowed my brows. ¡®The last time¡­¡¯ I gulped as it felt like there was a lump in my throat. ¡®...it was a fan of yours, a knife in hand, she came for revenge¨Cto make me pay for hurting you. And with the last chapter¡­¡¯ He chuckled. ¡®Quick to send it out for someone who didn¡¯t know what happened¡¯. I sighed. ¡®That¡¯s the thing¡­I¡¯ve never posted it myself either. I didn¡¯t even know until it blew up and I started getting emails about it.¡¯ ¡®You-¡¯ he started. I cut him off. ¡®This is it. I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ ¡®Wai-¡¯. Before he could finish his sentence, the floor creaked as I took a heavy step before bolting to the door. The air around me felt heavy as I extended my arm. I spread my fingers and gripped the doorknob squeezing tight as my knuckles turned white. My breath hitched as I pursed my quivering lips. I twisted the cold metal against my clammy palm before swinging open the door with a creak. There¡­was no one-no, nothing there. I jumped back. ¡®You won¡¯t believe this.¡¯ I took a deep breath, waiting for an answer which didn¡¯t come. I asked. ¡®Daekhui?¡¯ Nothing¡­ Did this thing break the connection¡­? ¡®What¡­¡¯ On the other side, a void stretched out. I gripped the door frame, peeking out to scan the surroundings. A sharp pain suddenly shot through my skull, making me loosen my grip and tumble forward. I flailed, instinctively reaching out for anything, but my fingers came up empty. I tried to regain my balance but it was no use. That moment seemed to stretch out, seeming to be playing out in slow motion. The ground beneath my feet vanished as I plummeted into the abyss, darkness surrounding me. The sense of falling made my stomach lurch as I plunged into the void. The chilly air whipped past me, stinging my face as it rushed into my lungs. The icy air stung making my breath come in ragged bursts. Gradually, I slowed down seeming to be floating weightlessly like a leaf caught in the wind. I gasped, cold air filling my lungs leaving me in a desperate gasp. I tried to sit up, but the heavy darkness seemed to crash down on me. There was a loud beep as a line of bold white text floated in the darkness. To be continued...
Chapter 12: Second Chance There was a loud beep as a line of bold white text floated in the darkness. WELCOME TO THE SYSTEM ZONE CHOSEN AUTHOR 5CHEV2004 A chill ran down my spine as the words glowed brightly against the darkness, casting an eerie glow. What the fuck¡­ AN ANOMALY HAS BEEN DETECTED¡­ CONTACT WITH THE DYING HOST WORLD. The words flashed before my eyes, leaving me in a state of confusion as my head throbbed. Anomaly? Finding out about the truth? YOU HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTING TO ALTER THE STORY¡­ My heart pounded, my mind racing as I thought of the events that had taken place. The disorientation, the confusion, the imposter syndrome¡­the guilt. It¡¯s my story! I can alter whatever the fuck I want! INACCURATE. AUTHORS ARE MERELY VESSELS CHOSEN FOR THE SCRIBE¡¯S BLESSING. You can¡­hear my thoughts? INDEED My stomach twisted as a creeping dread spread through me. Vessels for the scribe¡¯s blessing¡­what does that mean? THE STORY IS PREDETERMINED. YOU ARE MERELY IMPLANTED WITH IT AND WRITE IT DOWN TO ENSURE IT GETS ENOUGH SOUL POWER TO EXIST My breath hitched. My mind raced as I tried to grasp the implications of those words. The void seemed to be pressing against my skin. What are you¡­I¡¯m the one who wrote this story. I- If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. DID YOU REALLY? I paused, pursing my lips. I felt suffocated, there seemed to be a lump in my throat as the words caught in it. No¡­it just came to me I- INDEED. THE WORLD¡¯S EXIST ALONG WITH THEIR FATES. IT IS ALL PREDETERMINED. Each word made my chest ache. I curled my fingers into a fist, clenching them till my knuckles turned white. Then¡­why do I write? YOU ARE SIMPLY CHOSEN. WRITING CHOSEN STORIES GIVES MEANING TO YOUR EXISTENCE AND WORLDLY REWARDS FOLLOW IN THE CASE OF YOUR SUCCESS. Why¡­? CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. YOU MERELY NEED TO KNOW IT¡¯S A WIN-WIN SITUATION BETWEEN AUTHORS AND THE SYSTEM. I clenched my teeth, shutting my eyes to keep more tears from slipping out. What about their worlds? The protagonists? The people in it? IRRELEVANT. MERELY BROKEN SOULS ONLY FIT FOR CONSUMPTION. A chill ran down my spine, my stomach lurching as I felt dizzy. Fit...for consumption? My breath hitched, my chest aching as I remembered his pained voice, his desperate cries, his heartbreak¡­his despair. How could you¡­? They¡¯re people! They deserve just as much- DO YOU WISH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? My eyes widened at the question, the corners of my lips curling. Yes¡­ VERY WELL. THE SYSTEM SEEKS TO FULFILL ANY WISH OF YOURS ALONG WITH BEING FREE OF PUNISHMENT FOR THE CHARGES AGAINST YOU AS COMPENSATION FOR THE SYSTEM¡¯S ANOMALY. Wait¡­any? My mind raced as I regarded the sentence So even my family¡­my life, I can have it all back? INDEED. My pulse quickened. So¨Cno. I shook my head, taking a deep breath to try and steady my nerves. I thought of Daekhui¡­everything he¡¯s been through is on my hands and I have to fix it. But if I never started writing...no. If it isn''t me it''ll probably be someone else. Proceed with the previous wish. VERY WELL. ESTABLISHING LINK¡­ Link? A searing pain shot through my skull travelling down my spine. I doubled over, gasping as my nails dug into my palms. PLEASE WAIT¡­ I clenched my fists, biting down on my lips till the taste of blood filled my mouth. The air around me grew dense, pressing down on my chest. My breath came in shallow gasps as my vision blurred. The metallic taste on my tongue added to my nausea. LOADING¡­ I muffled a scream, pursing my lips whimpering as I writhed in pain. Sweat trickled down my temples, stinging my eyes. I have to endure¡­ SUCCESS! The word floated over my head. I breathed a shaky sigh of relief as the word appeared and the pain slowly faded. CONGRATULATIONS, THE LINK HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. Now what? WISH FULFILMENT How? RETURN TO THE PAST AND CHANGE A SIGNIFICANT PLOT POINT TO CHANGE THE ENDING. (0/5) Change¡­the past? Myself?! My eyes widened as my heart raced at the thought of having to survive in that world. I closed my eyes and gulped. REWARD: CHANGING THE ENDING AND RETURN TO YOUR WORLD I understand! FAILURE: ORIGINAL PLOT WILL BE FOLLOWED The words sent a shudder through me. What?! CHOOSE THE FIRST DESTINATION ______ To be continued...
Chapter 13: Before It All Began I took a deep breath, staring blankly into the space dimly lit by the hovering text¨C the words urging me to decide¨Cto change his¡­our fate. I never thought I¡¯d hope for a chance to change things. This used to be something¡­ that made me feel superior¨Ca sadistic pleasure that these characters were mere puppets dancing under my palms. However, being made aware of the horrifying reality, I was left with nothing but devastation. It felt like I was drowning, and someone¡ªsomething¡ªhad grabbed my hand. I felt¡­hope Can I really¡­ CHOOSE THE FIRST DESTINATION ______ I stared at the words looming over my head as I struggled to process what was happening. Return to the past¡­his past¡­.? My heart raced at the realization that such a notion had become possible¡­that I could be free of this sin. Is it really possible¡­to be free of the burden¡­ I clenched my trembling fists, bringing them to my side as I looked back at the blinking dash urging me to make a decision. Of all his -no, their sufferings¡­their deaths? I parted my lips to speak before pursing them, narrowing my eyes. But¡­where do I go? My mind raced as I considered the options I had. Before his lover died? His comrades? Before the last city got destroyed? The secret bases breached? The prophecy? Before he decided to help people and gain allies? All sorts of scenarios¨Cmemories of the text portraying his life flashed through my mind. I paused. Or¡­before it all began? I nodded to myself, raising my head to discover the text changing¡ªletters shifting, new ones appearing as the words morphed into something new. My eyes widened at the sight and the message that followed. DESTINATION (1/5) CHOSEN ¡°BEFORE IT ALL BEGAN¡± YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO RETURN TO THE START OF THE NOVEL DO YOU CONFIRM THIS AS THE DESTINATION FOR YOUR FIRST ATTEMPT? I stared at it for a few seconds before sighing. I guess this is it¡­ Shutting my eyes, I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart. I gulped trying to get rid of the feeling of a lump in my throat. I promised you¡­ If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. My stomach twisted as I bit my lip before choking out a shaky reply. ¡®Y-yes.¡¯ I will definitely fix this. There was a blinding flash of light and the world blacked out.
10 Years Ago¡­ ¡®I¡¯m telling ya, man, the semifinals were a freaking joke¡¯. I stepped onto the crosswalk, my lips curling. ¡®They didn¡¯t stand a chance against our strat. We¡¯ve got the finals in the bag.¡¯ I squinted at a loud honk, whipping my head to glare at the driver. That won¡¯t make the light change quicker¡­asshole I shifted my bag higher on my shoulder. ¡®You gotta trust me, dude. I¡¯m the Seong Dakhui. It¡¯ll be fi-¡¯ I jolted as a thunderous boom tore through the surroundings, echoing for a few seconds. Birds flew past, desperately flapping away. A storm¡­? Everyone stopped moving for a few moments, looking up toward the sky. Dark clouds covered the previously bright sky. There was silence, save for the sound of breathing and the whirring of engines. My heart pounded as I whispered. ¡®Hey, did you hear that?¡¯ Why do I feel so anxious? My ears were ringing, and the world seemed a blur. My friend said something but I couldn¡¯t register his words. My heartbeat rose rapidly, faster and faster till I felt suffocated. It felt like there was a weight pressing down on my chest, squeezing it. I shakily raised my hand and clutched at my aching chest. Knees feeling weak I dropped down, vision swimming as I caught glimpses of a few others in similar conditions. What¡¯s¡­happening? The surroundings seemed to darken, and my consciousness slowly faded away. I felt something grip my shoulders followed by a violent shake clearing up my vision. Warm hands held the sides of my head, covering my ears, gradually making the dizziness and lethargy disappear. As my vision cleared, I saw a strange mixed-race man standing before me. He seemed to be shouting something with furrowed brows. Who¡¯s this? I vaguely made out some of his words. Run¡­danger¡­Seo¡­Jun? Who? He suddenly grabbed my arm and yanked me forward forcing me to my feet. I blinked, shaking my head as he dragged me away from the crosswalk. The surroundings seemed to become darker as the man dragged me into an alley behind a nearby building. What the hell?! My eyes widened as I tried to pull myself free but to no avail as my strength seemed to be draining away. Have I been drugged? I struggled harder, trying to resist but it was of no use as he continued pulling me to a corner. I glanced around to look for a weapon when he suddenly flung me to a nearby wall. I raised my arms when he put his palms on my shoulders, his forehead creasing. He pushed and sat me down on the floor while crouching in front of me. I titled my head at him. ¡®Who¡­? ¡®I came from the future to save you!¡¯ he declared. I raised an eyebrow looking at his panicked face. Is he¡­schizophrenic or something? I took a deep breath, feeling like I was going back to normal as I made eye contact my the man. ¡®Listen-¡¯ He cut me off. ¡®No time. It¡¯s about to begin so be quiet.¡¯ I started. ¡®What is-¡¯ He frantically covered my mouth with his palm shaking his head. I sighed. Who did I just attract? I rolled my eyes, raising my arm to remove his hand when a woman¡¯s shriek echoed through the eerie silence. I glanced back at him to see his eyes widening. As soon as we made eye contact again, he flinched, averting his gaze away from me. I opened my mouth to ask when more screams tore through the air. Each abruptly cut off, followed by an unsettling quiet and a heavy metallic stench. Blood? I raised my eyebrows at him, only to be avoided again. I turned my head to look back but he covered my eyes mumbling. ¡®D-don¡¯t look, please¡­don¡¯t look.¡¯ Why¡­do I feel like I should listen to him? I nodded, turning my head back toward him while raising a hand to remove his blocking my sight. His eyes watered as tears threatened to spill out. I paused, staring at him wide-eyed in shock. He was a stranger¨Csomeone I had absolutely no prior contact with and he was crying here in front of me. What¡­am I supposed to do here? He closed his eyes, holding them back but they leaked through the corner of his eyes, tiny droplets resting on his eyelashes. My shoulders tightened as I stiffly shifted from side to side, eyes darting between him and the ground. I hesitantly raised my hand, my fist clenched in the air before I slowly extended it toward him. I placed a hand on his shoulder and awkwardly patted him making him straighten up. He started trembling, biting his lip as he peeked at me making my chest ache. He looked like a scared kid who knew he messed up, already bracing himself for a scolding. What the fuck is going on here?! I carefully asked him. ¡®Uh¡­are you okay? He opened his mouth, whispering meekly. ¡®I¡­am so sorry¡¯. To be continued...