《System Corruption: Patch》 Chapter 1: System, System on my phone who is the happiest of them all? Yawning I slowly pull myself out of my bed as the alarm screeches. Half asleep I turn of the alarm on my phone, blinking sleep away. Grabbing my phone unplugging it, I stand up pulling my black curtains open. The light shines through revealing a battlefield between dirty clothes and a horde of books. I probably should clean my room before mum gets back, she would kill me if she saw my room. Shaking my head, I turn my phone on to see the time, but instead a small white screen covers my phone. I stare at it for a few seconds as letters start appearing on it as if someone was franticly typing, kind of like letting a four-year-old reply for you. I place my phone on the nearby table making space for it in between the labyrinth of books. I look at it curiously and decide to at least make myself some cereal before dealing with a hacker. Its not like I have anything that important on my phone. Opening my door into the tiny corridor, I peek out and listen to hear my sister snoring in the next room. I grin if she is snoring then that means I have at least 30 minutes to make breakfast and then go back to hiding in my room. With a quick step I get to the kitchen quickly grabbing my food, leaving behind some bowls filled with cereal filled for my siblings. I try and sneak back into my room, but the pounding of skittering paws alerts me as Czarny tries to jump onto me spilling my cereal onto the floor. Our dog¡­ no it is more my dog then anyone else¡¯s, tries to lick me. A black Labrador quite big for his size tries to get me to play not noticing that some of the milk and cereal fell on him. Smiling I scratch his ear but freeze as the snoring stops. I quickly motion for him to follow behind me, holding what left of my spilled cereal I step into my room and close the door as quietly as I can. Shushing Czarny I hide my cereal behind some books and get into my bed motioning him to get under the covers. Czarny yips but follows as I pretend to sleep. As soon as I lay down the door is bashed open as I close my eyes and tense up, please it wasn¡¯t even my fault you woke up. Mela just taps her foot and looks at me as I half open my lidded eyes. Mela frowns and says, ¡°What did I tell you about getting up so early in the morning and why the hell is there cereal in the corridor?¡± Sighing I get up, looking at her as I answer, ¡°I should wait until you wake up and the cereal is on the floor because Czarny jumped me.¡± Mela shakes her head and just looks at me disappointed. How is this fair I''m 17 I should be able to get up whenever I want, I mean she¡¯s only 23, what right does she have to control me. Rolling her eyes, she closes the door and walks off probably going to grab the mop, Mela and me always clean up when mum is gone. I grab my cereal and my phone giving Czarny a scratch behind his ear as we sit in my bed well more a hybrid between a sofa and bed. The phone buzzes releasing a small shock of electricity, I drop it onto my bed and hold my hand managing to stop myself from releasing a loud yelp of pain.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Right in front of my eyes black letters appear, ¡°What the fuck?¡± Czarny stands up and rushes over to me licking my hand to help me, cute but that¡¯s not going to do anything. I look at him to see the letters disappear ¡°What?¡±, I turn to look at the window and the letters become less blurry as I see these words solidify in front f the glass. ¡°Welcome Player due to an accident concerning your souls you have been granted access to the newly born System, we will use electronics to send you further information. Please check out your character sheet.¡± Czarny stares at me before deciding that his master has gone insane and he should get his sister to help him, he turns around nocking my cereal onto me, my pyjamas turning the light blue clothes white. Shit, this looks like I was cumming quickly trying to minimize the damage before sis gets here or Eryk I take my clothes off replacing them, with a yellow t-shirt with a mosquito and some grey sweatpants. I grab my phone and try to put it into my pockets, but I receive another electrical shot. I shout ¡°Fuck!¡± Patch 0.1 Name: Kacper Hodun Level: 1 Health: 90/90 Stamina: 26/26 Str: 10 Agi: 7 Vit: 18 End: 13 Stp: 0 I can¡¯t do anything as the door once again slams open but instead of a frown there is a worried look on sis and Czarny comes charging back in. She speaks quickly ¡°What happened are you hurt?¡± ¡°No sis I¡¯m fine just hit my toe on the table¡­¡± I realise with sudden dread that swearing might have been a mistake. As she grabs me by my ear when she jumps over my stacks of books between us. Pulling it hard, I notice that my health falls by 2 points. ¡°I was worried, you never swear. What happened and don¡¯t you dare lie to me.¡± If only she new how much I swore when I was alone. ¡°Sorry, sorry I won¡¯t worry you again.¡± Letting me go I look down at her if someone saw this, they would probably be laughing their asses of as a 6,2 tall guy like me was being scolded by my ¡°younger¡± 5,6 sister. As she lets go, I turn to look at her angry light blue eyes and sight ¡°I''m seeing floating letters and num-¡° I don¡¯t finish my sentences as she hits me with Death Hallows over my head and gives me the same look when as a I twelve and I stole some chocolate then blamed it on the dog. Its better to lie she won¡¯t believe me otherwise. ¡°My phone shocked me when I was holding it and I dropped it. Czarny got scared and knocked over the cereal and I had to change.¡± She looks at my phone that lays on the bed and grabs it as she lets go over my ear and hits me again with the book hurting me this time but its bearable 1 point of health. I stiffen as she turns it on and then shrugging and throwing it back onto the bed. ¡°Get dressed I have work in an hour and I need you to get something from my friends and bring it me.¡± She turns away and walks out. ¡°It¡¯s going to be one of those weekends isn¡¯t it?¡± I look at Czarny who is biting his leg and then I turn back to the irritating character sheet and wave it of and to my surprise it disappears. I''ll have to figure it out later I need to be my sister''s deliveryman today. Chapter 2: Packages… Received! I inch closer to my phone and touch it and thankfully there is no electric shot I pick it up and start going through my apps as I notice a small blank app with Character Sheet written on it. Ignoring it for now I put the phone back into my pocket and go wake up Alicya and Eryk. Walking the creaking stairs, I hear shuffling as my little sister Alicya emerges from the bathroom with a small pink toothbrush in her mouth and a white bathrobe she stole from mum. She turns to me and starts running down the stairs to hug me, almost tripping over due to the stolen bathrobe, I manage to catch her. I look at her and smile as she starts babbling about the dream she had today. One day she will get herself killed if she doesn¡¯t look where she is going. ¡°Kacper¡± She pulls on my shirt to get me to listen to her. ¡°Sorry, just thinking how you stole the bathrobe again, I though mum hid it from you?¡± I look at her giving her a fake serious look. ¡°Uhhhh¡­ Eryk told me¡­ I really like so I took it.¡± Picking her up and carrying her to the top of the squares I put her down and smile ¡°Let me guess I have to clean up the mess?¡± ¡°No, I will.¡± I sigh used to this little dance of ours, however surprisingly she gives me a determined look that is offset by her much too large bathrobe and cute little toothbrush she is holding. I grab her shining platinum hair and point to the bathroom ¡°How about you finish brushing your teeth first.¡± Nodding she goes to clean her teeth and I go to wake up Eryk theirs no point of waking Dad work. Ignoring my parents¡¯ room I step into my former room where a bunk bed sits snuggly in the corner surrounded by a multicoloured painted table and a stained brown sofa. A TV hangs in one of the corners with a game console sitting under it. Grabbing the bottom bunks bed cover I pull it of my younger brother, Eryk starts moaning and cussing at me. I let go of the cover ¡°Breakfast is downstairs sis wants you.¡± Ignoring me he gets up and walks downstairs pushing me as he walks by. Following behind him, grabbing my coat and oyster card I follow close behind. Shouting to sis ¡°Which friend of yours is it?¡± I hear her shout from the kitchen ¡°Alice, you know the tall one.¡± I shake my head ¡°The nice one or the annoying one?¡± I really hope it¡¯s the nice one she is at least bearable and close by the faster I get back home the quicker I can go back to my room. She steps out of the kitchen throwing the keys to me with a slight annoyed look ¡°The nice one with glasses and likes the same geeky shit as you.¡± She starts contemplating something but shrugs and decides to turn around. I barely catch the keys and nod, so I m dealing with the annoying one. Great she is so bloody happy all the time. Turning around I tentatively grab the doorknob as I prepare myself mentally for the cold. Opening the door, I feel the cool wind blast and I shiver, gritting my teeth I step out onto the windy streets of New London. Closing the door, I sigh ¡°Just two hours and then I can go back. No dealing with people just good old books and hot chocolate.¡± 07:31 AM, New London, Borough Greenwich Only twenty minutes outside and I already want to crawl up and die, jumping of the old repurposed bus I start walking towards Alice¡¯s house. I look down at my phone anxiously seeing 73% on the front of my screen with bold letters spelling out Quest System and Experience Meter. I can guess that once its complete I will be able to gain levels and go on quests? That might be useful if its anything like in RPG then money would be useful. Touching the screen causes the character sheet to appear before my eyes, looking at it I can see that Str is probably a term for strength, but does that just make me overall stronger? I guess I will just have to figure it out. Agi is probably agility but is that my stat for speed and movement or maybe it represents how far I can jump? Wait wouldn¡¯t that fall under strength? Fuck it. Vit and End are probably Vitality and Endurance but what is Stp and why do I have zero? I mean my other stats don¡¯t look good, but they aren¡¯t nothing. Stp could be something I have to earn or something, I probably should just go on the internet I mean this seems to be an RPG so maybe it¡¯s gamer lingo. Shoving my phone into my pocket I start walking towards the Thames. Walking from the bus stop I pass through the newly built street blocks, turning to my right I reach my destination an apartment block. Looking at the 10-storey apartment, I sigh and walk up to the elevator. I am about to punch the button, but the elevator starts to come down, well that¡¯s lucky. The elevator opens with a stranger standing there, I look at him curiously waiting for him to walk out. I have my foot in the elevator to prevent the doors from closing I nod my head. After a few seconds I speak up ¡°Sorry sir, are you not getting out?¡± He shakes his head but otherwise does nothing. Yeah, I¡¯m not dumb enough to step into a small metal container with a random man who is suspiciously waiting for me. I take my foot out and give the man a nervous smile ¡°This isn¡¯t Brodstreet Apartments is it? Well sorry for the intrusion.¡± Really Brodstreet that¡¯s the best I can come up with? The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Not letting the stranger speak I press the close door button and start walking away keeping my eye on him with a nervous smile. As the doors close, I can see him grinning, fear shoots through my spine and without a second thought I run to the staircase right beside the elevator. Ignoring the cold wind, I sprint up the stairs making it to the 5 storeys where I stop and take a deep breath. I hear the elevator door open right beside me. Not glancing at the door, I return to running up the stairs taking out my phone ready to call the police, I stop at the 6 storey and look down to notice a mother and son walking out of the elevator. The anxiety and slight trepidation ease, but quickly return as I realise that there shouldn¡¯t have been enough time for the small family to get on and then off. I didn¡¯t see them standing next to the man and they couldn¡¯t have gotten on without me noticing it, after all I closed the bloody door, there is no way they got on without me noticing. I decide to at least have my phone ready to call the police, however as I turn my phone on all I see a 88%. Closing my eyes and muttering a silent prayer to God, I go back to walking. Reaching the ninth floor I walk up to her door. A small red door sitting tightly in between 934 and 936. Knocking on the door I wait for a few seconds, before it opens revealing a tall brunet with round reading glasses and green eyes. She shivers her Star Wars t-shirt and jeans do little to protect her, hoping from one bare foot to another. Noticing me she smiles ¡°Hi Kacper did Mel send you?¡± I nod before answering ¡°Um, yeah. I was supposed to get something¡­¡± I mumble a bit unsure if I should continue. She nods energetically as she turns around and runs back inside probably for the package. As she darts into one of the rooms, I hear her call out ¡°Would you like some coffee or tea? I know you prefer black tea, but I only have green, sorry.¡± ¡°No, thank you and don¡¯t worry I want to get back home as fast as possible.¡± She returns a minute later carrying a big cardboard box, I grab it as she nears the door. She gives me a grateful nod before she releases a barrage of chatter. ¡°Really? I bet it must be something important.¡± I give her a small shrug, but she ignores it and continues ¡°How has Ali been does she still want to play football, one of my friends knows a cheap club close by? How about Eryk has he finally forgiven James? Ooh, I forget to give you a treat for Czarny!¡± She runs back inside ready to get some dog biscuits, she bought them specifically so she can give them to Czarny when I come around. Jesus Christ, I really am a delivery man. How many times have I collected packages for Sis this month? Isn¡¯t this like the sixth time? As I am lost in thought Alice returns with a bunch of dog treats in a small bag with a cheery smile. She stops in front of me noticing my problem as I hold the giant package, before nodding and without permission putting them into my coats pocket. Why has this become part of our little tradition? Hell, I always come in this coat to her specifically because of the giant pockets where she can place her doggy treats and gifts for Ali. Sighing I answer ¡°Ali completely forgot about it she now wants to be a tennis player. Erik, well he¡¯s Erik.¡± She smiles at me shivering in the cold. I¡¯m about to say goodbye but I stop and ask ¡°Hey, did you notice a weird man in the neighbourhood?¡± This stops her smiling as she stares at me curiously before answering ¡°No I don¡¯t think so. What did he look like?¡± I open my mouth to answer but stop and start frowning, what did he look like? I mean beside his creepy smile I can¡¯t remember anything about him. I shake my head trying to remember but its like looking at a foggy mirror, I can see the outline but nothing else. ¡°Uh¡­ I can¡¯t actually remember but be careful. Alright?¡± I try and give her a confident smile, but it breaks quite easily under her scrutiny. Giving a small shrug, ¡°Alright I¡¯ll be careful of any weird men.¡± With a grateful nod she waves as I start to turn away when I hear a small a yelp. Quickly I look back at her to see a wide eye stare and flailing arms. She notices me and quickly stammers out ¡°I¡¯m a ll-ittle sick I sh-ould gget back in bed.¡± Slamming the door behind her, well that weird even for her. My phone vibrates as I take it out and see the progress bar had reached 100%. The words and percentage bar disappear revealing a text was sent to me. With a bit of trepidation, I open it. Main Quest: London¡¯s New Shadow. Info: A mysterious stranger has appeared in London and seems to have an interest in you find out who he is and what is his problem with you? Reward: Unlocks ¡°Shadow Over London¡± Quest Line, 300 EXP and Suggestion Box. Failure: Loss of interest from [?]. Possible death and/or enslavement. Chapter 3: New Blood Patch 0.1.1 Name: Kacper Hodun Level: 1 EXP: 0/200 Health: 90/90 Stamina: 26/26 Str: 10 Agi: 7 Vit: 18 End: 13 Stp: 0 Quest Log Looking at my character sheet and rereading the quest to see if I had made a mistake. I sighed as I resigned myself to the quest. It didn¡¯t even allow me to accept it, I guess it must be part of the main story line or something. Thank God for small mercies at least there isn¡¯t a time limit, or I would be screwed. Putting my phone back into my pocket I grabbed the box in a firmer grip as I walked up the elevator. I was about to touch the button, but I would rather not risk meeting whoever that was, with this I turned around quickly and started walking down the stairs as fast as I could. I was about halfway down the stairs when I heard a ping. Stopping a second I put down the box I opened it a text appeared. Due to strenuous physical action your strength has risen by 1. ¡°What? I¡¯m not that weak.¡± Putting my phone away I have some time before sis starts getting worried. Looking up I stare at the 5 storeys and I start walking up as fast as I can carrying the box with me, this should help with End and Str. 4 and a half minutes later¡­ Dropping the box at the last storey I fall to the ground out of breath. Grabbing my phone as I check out the new stat boosts. Smiling at the 2 Str and 3 End I gained. I get up and grab the box down the stairs and back up. I¡¯m about to rush down the stairs when I hear another ping. Curious I turn my phone on to see a new quest. Quest: Follow the Shadow Info: A strange man is looking at you from one of the 10 storey apartments and is smiling. Check out why he is inside an apartment. Time Limit: 15 minutes. Reward: 10 EXP, Ticket to the Underground and Bloody Butcher. Optional Reward: Stp based on success. Failure: Imprisonment and possible criminal record. Declining: Loss of interest from [?] and -5 EXP. Yes or No? I¡¯m about to text back no when I stop. What happens if I have negative experience will I just lose access to the system. Secondly whoever is interested in me could be the same person as the London¡¯s New Shadow quest, would I fail it if I don¡¯t do this one? Looking at the failure I can see it mostly likely have something to do with the police if I am at risk of a criminal record.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Looking up from my phone I push the box gently to the corner of the stairs as I start looking for the smiling man. The quest doesn¡¯t seem to start until I text back yes so, I should be fine to explore for a bit. Why would I even need a ticket at least I can guess that a Bloody Butcher is most likely a weapon or maybe an item. Walking around the U-shaped apartment block I look at every window and gently touch the doors until 1073 where I hear another ping. Grabbing my phone, I notice a text. ¡°Quest accepted by stepping into the quest area.¡± Shit, pocketing my phone I push on the door expecting nothing to happen I am surprised that door swings wide open. Stepping inside the freezing apartment I notice a dark splotch on the otherwise pristine with walls of the apartment. Stepping closer my eyes widen as I realise its blood. I grab my phone ready to call the police but stop remembering the possible failure. I would basically be committing quest suicide by doing this. Pocketing my phone, I slowly edge through the building looking into the kitchen, I thankfully see nothing out of the ordinary. Slowly walking to the next room, I gently nudge it open to see a bedroom where a man lays on the bed covered with wounds bleeding deep red viscous blood. Slapping my mouth shut I listen closely just in case someone was here. I turn around and head further in there is no way I¡¯m leaving behind evidence just so I could loot this place. The small bathroom has nothing of note, so I decide to head into the biggest room. I step in to see a couch and telly in the corner. Gulping I turn to see a woman sleeping on the coach with dishevelled hair. My phone vibrates as another text is sent to me. ¡°Figure out who is the victim the dead man or the sleeping woman. 7 minutes left.¡± After reading it I scan the room and slowly edge around the sofa to see the women holding a bloody butcher¡¯s knife. So, she must have been the killer. I hear a snore come from her and quickly decide to leave the room quietly to check the dead body. Getting back to the bedroom I turn on the lights and notice the man¡¯s beaten appearance. Muttering to myself ¡°So maybe she was abusing him, or she could have snapped after his mistreatment of her? It seems to be the latter I didn¡¯t get a good look at her, but she didn¡¯t seem to be hurt. Stepping closer to the body I notice a piece of crumpled paper. Another buzz from my phone quickly turning it on I see another text. ¡°Clue 1 of 4 discovered.¡± Grabbing the paper, I open it to see a horned stick figure standing with a serpent around his shoulder with a cave surrounding him? Written on it ¡°The gods of old are calling, do not forget them in these foreign lands. Do not be tricked by the false gods of the Celts and Abraham.¡± Muttering to myself ¡°Great there¡¯s some kind of cult in the area.¡± Checking out the time my eyes widen, and I book it, 3 minutes I need to get as far away as possible. Reaching the box, I hear a ping and noticing something strange. On the box a blue ticket and bloody cleaver lay on it. The blood is thankfully dry and doesn¡¯t seem to leave behind any evidence as I pick it up. Deciding to hide it I open it and place it in between the cleaning supplies. I put the ticket in my pockets. Grabbing the box, I rush halfway down the stairs and slow down as I make the final steps down the storeys hearing another ping. Ignoring it I walk with purpose away from the crime seen to the closest bus station. As I sit down on the bus stop, I turn on my phone seeing my Agi and Str rose by one. Ignoring this I look at the message that says, ¡°Accept the rest of the quest rewards?¡± Typing yes, I notice my EXP increase to 10 and the Stp to rise by one. I look at the stats and decided to touch Vit it rises by one and I notice my health also changes by 5. I impatiently drum my fingers as I look up at the screen 3 minutes before the bus arrives. I get up and start pacing, in an attempt to calm down I put some earphones in and turn on my play list to hear my playlist. All I hear are the words ¡°You had my curiosity, know you have my attention.¡± The music goes back to normal as I hear Fall Out Boy My songs know what you did in the dark. I sit down and grab my head as I hear my heart beating louder then the song. The bus arrives and I slowly get up and grab the box as I take a seat. 08:41 AM, Old London, Borough Haringey I stop in front of my hose as I look at the deep black door. Looking around cautiously I take out the cleaver and I strap it between my belt using my coat to hide it. I grab the box and using my keys open the door to hear sis shouting ¡°Finally! I need to go in 10 minutes put them on the table in the kitchen.¡± Shouting back, I answer ¡°Sure.¡± As Czarny comes barrelling in I walk over to the food bowl in the kitchen and I place his dog treats. Rubbing his head, I quickly place the box onto the table and head for my sanctuary. As soon as I close the door I rip of my coat and throw it onto the chair as I hide the cleaver under my bed, its not the best option but I cant make too much noise or they would start asking how I got a bloody cleaver. Finally, as I hide it, I sit down on the bed and just let myself fall. Turning on my phone I see another ¡°Patch 0.1.2 Mental Stats.¡± Chapter 4: Perception and Reality Rubbing my face as I lay in my bed trying to calm down. Oh, God why is everything getting more complicated? I mean I¡¯m already failing school I don¡¯t need an insane cult worshiping some weird god interfering with my life. Getting up I go grab myself some tea, emerging from my room I get to see sis going through the box. Stepping into the kitchen I scoot past her and start making some tea as I think. Obviously, I need better stats to survive whatever is coming. Grabbing the tea bag, I place it in the mug as I wait for the water to boil. However, I can¡¯t simply grind for no reason, I need some kind of goal. If mental stats are what I think they are then I could become more then an average student barely getting by. If I can really boost Intelligence and Wisdom, then I can at least have a good job in the future. So, I should take small easy quest so that I can level up and gain Stp, the system seems to have a similar style to most other fictional ones so I can guess I will get 5 stat points for every level. The kettle finishes boiling and as I pour it in, I wonder can I get skills? Finishing pouring it in I stare at the tea and scrunch my eyes to concentrate. I keep my stare unflinching as I watch the water turn brown, come on every gamer fic has the observation skill why don¡¯t I have it? I can probably guess that I mostly likely haven¡¯t got the patch for it. That¡¯s stupid and annoying, taking out the teabag I quickly put some sugar in and head back to my room. Closing the door, I wait slowly sipping my tea for Sis to leave. As soon as she shouts her goodbyes, I grab my phone and look at my only quests. Main Quest: London¡¯s New Shadow (In Progress) This quest is the main storyline isn¡¯t it? Looking over the rewards I notice the Suggestion Box, quirking my eyebrow I smile. This means that I can at least ask for features in the game, there might be some benefits, but this also most likely means there are more players like me. Deciding to look at my finished quests. Quest: Follow the Shadow (Partially Successful) So, I didn¡¯t complete it correctly. Well at least I got out of it unscathed so that¡¯s a plus. Taking out the dark blue ticket I hold it in front of my eyes as I scrutinise it. Written on it in a shining silvery colour the words ¡°Et portae inferi.¡± Turning on my laptop and a quick google search I find out the meaning ¡°The Gates of Hell¡±. Deciding not to mess with a ticket strait from hell I open my cupboard and hide it under a bunch of my clothes. As I finish hiding the satanic ticket, I hear nocking on my room and in surprise I jump up and accidently step on one of the many books laying around. Slipping on the books I fall and hit the precariously balanced books which topple over and swamp me. With my sudden fall I see the door slam open knocking even more books over and I hear Ali wince as she holds Czarny by the collar to stop him from running in and jumping on me. Getting up I push the books of me and get up, looking at her curiously to see she is dressed up with a puffy blue coat, and black trousers with white and black sneakers. Giving her a curious look over I ask, ¡°Where are you going?¡± Quickly answering while stroking Czarny ¡°Eryk was supposed to take the dog to the park but he¡¯s not getting up from bed¡­ again. So, can we go together?¡± I look at the nine-year-old who is trying to do puppy dog eyes while trying to get Czarny to do it who is not appreciating the fact as he is biting his leg. ¡°Sure, just let me get some things wait by the door.¡± Smiling she pulls Czarny by the collar to the door who whines at the unjust treatment. Sorry buddy better you then me. I grab my coat and leash quickly getting myself ready. I¡¯m about to step out of the room when I feel a sense of dread. Turning back to my bed I see the Bloody Butcher sticking out. I¡¯m pretty sure it was further under the bed, I slowly edge to the weapon and hold my breath. I touch the bloody weapon expecting some hand to suddenly appear grab me, but nothing happens. I take the weapon and grabbing a bunch of tissue I place them in my coat pocket in an attempt to prevent any damage to the fabric. Zipping it up I step out of the room as I stare at my bed almost expecting it to sprout eyes and teeth. My paranoia seems to be unfound as I close the door, I let out a breath and turn around giving my best smile. I can deal with whatever that was later.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. 08:57 AM, Old London, Borough Haringey, Jonman¡¯s Park Czarny pulls on his leash as we step into the park already barking and trying to free himself, Ali follows close behind me. Looking around for any small dogs, I smile to see that the park is empty except for us. I guess it make sense with what happened at the Shard, people are still a bit scared of what could happen, but the chances of another attack in the park is practically non-existent. Releasing him from the dog leash Czarny bounds of the path into the uncut bushes emerging a minute later after marking his territory again. Ali shouts to me as she runs of to the playground, whistling for Czarny to follow I walk at a leisurely pace. Sitting down at a close by bench I watch Ali go on the swing, she always gets bored after five minutes, so I have some time. I feel the familiar panting of Czarny as he runs behind me once again enjoying his freedom. I close my eyes and start to think I can¡¯t possibly be the only gamer in the world after all a suggestion box implies there are more people. This creates more questions like why did we receive the system and why is it not fully patched? Secondly is the system the reason why the Middle East is an even bigger shit hole. I mean 15 years ago; things were bad but know its basically a wasteland filled with mercenaries and radicals. What about the destruction of London or Mexico City? Thirdly did all gamers receive it today or could I be the last person getting it? Shaking my head, I open my eyes and I hear well more what I don¡¯t hear, I don¡¯t hear barking. I stand up quickly looking around trying to spot the black blur. Fear grabs me by the throat and punches me three times in the gut as I turn around praying for that nothing happened to Ali. I see her smiling and waiving at me as I stand about 10 metres away from her, I sigh but I go back to looking around as I quickly walk to her. I stand next to her leaning on the swing as fear starts crawling up my spine, shit. I whistle in hopes of getting the black beast¡¯s attention, but the park stays eerily quiet as Ali continues to swing. Unzipping my pocket, I gently grab my weapon waiting for anything to jump out, but quiet reigns and minutes that feel like hours pass. As the swing stops, I feel Ali pulling on my coat I turn to her giving her a little nod before I go back to looking at the surroundings. She asks a bit worried ¡°Where¡¯s Czarny?¡± I shrug and say, ¡°I don¡¯t know I tried whistling, but he didn¡¯t come running back.¡± Quickly jumping of the swing, she starts walking looking around whistling and shouting his name definitely worried for his safety. She is about to turn back to me before she stops and stares at the road. Following her I see that the road is littered with frozen cars and people stuck in time. The seconds tick away, and they just stay frozen. Grabbing Ali, I pull out Bloody Butcher and head for the nearby metal gates, how the hell did I not notice the road? Looking around I can clearly see everything is frozen in place outside of th park. As we reach the gates, I try to push them open, but they stay shut. Deciding to brute force it I give myself some running distance as I charge and smash into the metal frame. Pain course through my shoulder as I curse, I hear whimpering as I look at Ali who is standing there pale and shivering, she closed her eyes in an attempt to stop herself from crying. Ignoring the pain, I kneel reach out and gently holding her hand, ¡°Come on there are three more exits and if they don¡¯t work, we can just climb on a tree and jump over the fence.¡± I tried to hide the weapon to at least not make the situation worse. Barely holding back tears ¡°What if everyone is frozen? What about Mom and Dad?¡± Trying to give her a reassuring smile I answer with badly hidden dread in my voice ¡°It¡¯s going to be alright. We just have to find out what happened and then we reverse it.¡± She looks at me clearly not believing anything I said. Standing up I gently pull her along behind me, as I let my brain go into overdrive. Czarny is gone, everything is frozen and were trapped inside the park, oh and I¡¯m supposed to protect Ali. Czarny had disappeared when everything froze maybe its connected? Whatever is happening has something to do with the park after all everything else can still be interacted with but everything outside is stuck in time. Turning on my phone hoping for some kind of notification I see two new messages. ¡°Patch 0.1.2 has been downloaded, Patch 0.1.3 Social Stats has started¡± a quick check on my status reveals to me the new Int and Wis stats with mana. I smiled at that, but I lost my grin as I read the second notification ¡°Stepped into a Demi-Plane prepare for: Event-Fairies Wake¡± Patch 0.1.2 Name: Kacper Hodun Level: 1 EXP: 10/200 Health: 95/95 Stamina: 32/32 Mana: 10.5/10.5 Str: 14 Agi: 8 Vit: 19 End: 16 Int: 21 Wis: 13 Stp: 0 Chapter 5: Beauty Is Not A Virtue Quest: Event Fairies Wake Info: Having accidently stepped into the fairy realm you must escape alive without being cursed or badly hurt. Use and silver tongue to beat the fairies with meagre knowledge of their legends. Location: Jonmans Park Optional Objectives: Save your sister and/or dog! Reward: 100 EXP Optional Reward: One vial of [?] Failure: Become a servant of [?] Declining: None Yes or No? Accepting the event, I sigh and look at Ali. Tightening the grip on my weapon I put my phone away, grabbing Ali I pulled her along the path watching for any sign of movement. Following on the paved path the surrounding trees increase in number as bushes that previously did not exist spring up before our eyes. Ali squeezes my hand and I give her a little squeeze in an attempt to reassure her. Deciding to slow down so I wouldn¡¯t step on any of the leaves and twigs laying on the path. Music and flickering lights start to fill the forest as we walk ever closer. Stopping when we hear rustling from the bushes, a little white rabbit runs onto the path. It stops and looks at us all the while standing on its two feet, elegant and white as snow, cute well¡­ it would be if its blood shot eyes weren¡¯t filled with¡­ malicious curiosity. Shaking its head, it turns to the road and then back to us before sprinting along the road to whatever is making the music. Gulping I tell Ali ¡°If something happens to me run.¡± Turning to her I continue ¡°Remember fairies can¡¯t tell a lie knowingly and are scared of iron or someone knowing their real name.¡± Looking at me with a timid smile she asks curiously, picking up on my anxiety ¡°I don¡¯t think that was a fairy. That looked more like a bunny.¡± ¡°Just trust me on this. If you have to make a deal and remember they take the wording literally.¡± She looks at me and nods but answers ¡°Fairies are good, aren¡¯t they?¡± Giving her a little smile ¡°This isn¡¯t Disney Ali, fairies don¡¯t care about being good or bad they want to have fun and it doesn¡¯t matter if humans get hurt.¡± I guess being a bookworm will at least help me deal with anything supernatural, I hope at least that some part of the stories is true after all there must be a grain of truth in them. Still unsure I slowly pull her along, leaving her behind puts her at the risk of being captured at least with me I can defend her. The Bloody Butcher is probably made of iron so it might hurt them. After a few minutes and a few turns on the path we get lost in the forest stranded in another world. The trees are beautiful and exotic but are unnaturally colourful with red, blue and green. The sky is covered with some kind of dome separating us from the clear blue sky but still letting light in. Eventually the forest and bushes grow sparse as a wide-open glade appears before our eyes, a round stone table with stone chairs sits at the centre with delicious and warm looking food on top of it. With no other option we step closer until we finally reach the table and we look upon the banquet set before us.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. The food smells delicious and looks enticing, drooling at the sight I stop myself from grabbing a nearby apple. Never can be too careful I turn to see Ali about to bite into bread, with surprising speed I knock the delicious loaf out of her hand onto the floor. Hissing at her ¡°Don¡¯t bloody eat that. You don¡¯t know what it is!¡± Shouting back at me ¡°Shut up! Its bread what¡¯s the worst that could happen?¡± ¡°How the hell am I supposed to know? No one leaves behind warm food in a forest with cutlery and chairs waiting for you.¡± A beautiful voice filled with mirth and joy interrupts us and we turn around to see an impossibly beautiful man. He towers above any man they had seen with hair the colour of gold and emerald eyes that hold a malicious glint. Wearing elegant white robes with golden linings which compliment his white porcelain skin. Gripping his weapon Kacper puts himself in front of Ali momentarily forgetting their argument. The man starts speaking but the word seems to be more like a repetitive melody then a real language, he stops to look at us seeing clearly the confusion painted on our faces. Irritation appears on his face but disappears just as quickly being replaced with a slightly too sweet smile. He starts speaking again in perfect English ¡°Hello their mortals may I ask why you interfere with the preparations of my feast? Oh, not to be a bother could you move that abomination in your appendage as far away as possible from me.¡± Gulping I give Ali a quick look so she would keep quiet, I slowly putt the cleaver back into my coat pocket never taking my eyes of the¡­ I don¡¯t know what maybe an elf? I look closer at him to see that he does indeed posses pointed ears sticking through his hair. I would rather not offend someone who can create their own dimension. I carefully ask trying to keep my voice steady ¡°Sorry for the trouble we were looking for our dog a black Labrador? Any chance you saw him, we think he might have chased a squirrel into this forest.¡± Gently tapping his face with one elegant finger he grins before grabbing a shadow and then pulling out Czarny by the scruff of his collar, Czarny is desperately struggling to get free. He turns to look at me with a grin that splits his face in two but somehow is still elegant. His voice has a tinge of excitement as he speaks ¡°Do you means this mutt I caught him trying to eat one of my attendants.¡± My eyes flicker between him and Carny who howls in pain as the man¡¯s long and sharp nails slowly tighten on his neck, ¡°Stop! I¡¯m sorry for that but killing my dog is not a fair.¡± My mind is working at the speed of light trying to remember anything I could use against a fairy. He nods at my words but continues ¡°That is true, but you have disrespected me. You have come to my banquet uninvited and ruined my carefully planned feast. Not only have you come here without permission but also with an abomination and you never showed respect for your betters. I think the death of this mut is a very lenient punishment, don¡¯t you agree?¡± He begins to tighten his grip on Czarnys throat unable to do anything I hear Ali screaming at him to stop I have my hand in front of her to stop her from doing anything suicidal. As I watch tears start to form in her eyes and I hear the whimpering of Czarny, something clicks in my brain. Shouting at the fairy I shout, ¡°HOW ABOUT A GAME?¡± this stuns Ali and stops the death of Czarny for a few more seconds before he starts laughing. Soon the laughter is joined by a cacophony of other voices follow as more strange and otherworldly beings step out of the forest. All shapes and sizes but what unites them is their beauty that surpasses anything I have ever seen on Earth. I feel my thoughts becoming slow and muddy as they step out from the shadows laughing at me. Shaking my head, I turn back to the dog strangler and try to focus on my canine ignoring the laughter and jokes thrown in my direction. The dog strangler eases his grip and his ear-splitting grin grows wider somehow extending behind his ears, He looks at the laughing crowd before coming to a decision. He theatrically throws my dog back into the shadows where he disappears with a yelp, before twirling around and somehow appearing inches away from my face. Before I can think how he did it he bends down and grabs my hand, shaking it. His voice dripping with contempt he continuous ¡°Very well little mudman we shall play a game for your little mut and your sorry lives.¡± He straightens and like a circus performer speaks loudly into a microphone ¡°Today I have a little treat for you! We shall watch a Wild Hunt or my name isn¡¯t Angthe Du Nali!¡± I look at Ali to see her staring at me with abject horror, welp I''m an idiot I might as well have given my soul to the Devil. At least he might have the concept of empathy unlike these monsters.