Real World...
As soon as Pichy stepped through the door, she immediately dialed Faye's number. The phone rang twice before Faye's voice crackled through the speaker.
Pichy?! Where the hell have you been?! Faye's voice was filled with equal parts concern and frustration.
Pichy let out a long sigh, rubbing her eyes. I got pulled into the game, just like you.
For a few seconds, Faye was silent on the other end, processing the news. Did you see them? Are they okay? Are you?
Pichy hesitated, unsure how to fully explain the strange experience. I'm fine... I think. It was just... weird. But yeah, they're fine too. Actually, they seem to be adjusting to the game
Faye's voice softened, but there was a sharp edge of concern. I think being in that game for so long is messing with their heads. It's like you can't even tell time in there... Did you tell Nawat? What did he say?
Pichy's shoulders sagged. He didn't believe me. I don't think he took it seriously at all.
There was a pause before Faye responded, her tone firm. Maybe we should go talk to him together. See if we can get through to him and figure out how to get them out.
Pichy felt drained, the emotional exhaustion from the game getting to her. It was a feeling she couldn't quite shake. I don't think they're in any immediate danger... Can we go tomorrow? I'm too wiped out right now.
Faye agreed without hesitation. Yeah, I get it. We'll talk tomorrow. Get some rest.
Pichy exhaled a long breath, her body relaxing for the first time since she returned. Thanks, Faye. I'm not ready to dive into this again.
Take your time. Have a good night, Faye replied, her voice gentle but concerned.
Good night, Pichy echoed, feeling a little more at ease.
Back to the game...
Red: Calliope | Green: Juliet
Is it letting you select anything, P'Fa? Char asked, tapping the buttons a couple of times with growing frustration.
No, P'Fa muttered, shrugging. Maybe we don't have to keep playing.
Char let out a soft laugh, her eyes twinkling. I'm not that worried anymore, she said, her voice filled with warmth. She grabbed P'Fa's hand, interlocking their fingers in a simple, comforting gesture.
Gamekeeper #4 has decided to avoid character selection for this level. Juliet will be played by Engfa, while Calliope will be played by Charlotte.
Scene:
Juliet, the baby vampire, has reached that critical age where she must drink human blood directly from the vein to complete her transition into an adult vampire. Despite the hunger gnawing at her, Juliet, ever the kind-hearted soul, refuses to harm anyone. Instead, she uses blood capsules to satisfy the craving, but they're simply not enough anymore.
Enter Calliope: a vampire hunter trained by her family to despise all vampires. Calliope has been sent to Breaking Dawn High School with one mission: to hunt down and eliminate every vampire she encounters. She is resolute, fierce, and deadly—everything Juliet is not.
A random guy approaches Calliope (Char) with a grin. We need two more players to make it even. Want to play?
Calliope (Char) shrugs, her eyes scanning the group before she strides toward him. The group had gathered around the kitchen counter, an empty beer bottle sitting in the middle like a silent challenge.
Hey, Juliet, someone asks. Do you want to play?
Juliet (P'Fa), her heart fluttering in her chest, hesitates for a moment. She had been secretly crushing on Calliope since she joined the school, and the idea of spending any more time with her made her feel both excited and nervous. Y-yeah, let's do it, she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
The game begins, and it's Juliet's turn to spin the bottle. She hesitates, unsure, before giving it a quick twirl. The bottle spins slowly, and when it finally stops, it points directly at Calliope (Char).
Char smirks, but there's a playful edge to her gaze. That's not fair. It's two girls, one of the guys teases. There's a spark in Juliet (Engfa's) eyes that suggests she's far from disappointed.
The random guy—who has been covertly eyeing Juliet since the moment she walked in—sighs frustrated.
Juliet, slightly taken aback but intrigued, finishes her drink in one swift gulp, then nods toward the pantry, the unspoken invitation hanging in the air. That's where the real "make-out sessions" were happening.
Red: Cal makes the first move | Green: Juliet makes the first move
The choice hung in the air—either one of them could decide, but it was clear that P'Fa wasn't about to hesitate. Without a second thought, she pressed the green button, sealing the decision.
Cal (Char) leaned casually against the counter, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. Someone's feeling brave. Juliet (P'Fa) felt a sudden wave of shyness wash over her, her cheeks flushed. Do you want to kiss me that badly? she asked, her voice a little softer than usual.
Juliet (P'Fa) chuckled, the sound warm and teasing. Any excuse to kiss you is a good one.
Juliet (P'Fa) closed the distance between them, pressing her lips softly against Cal's (Char). It was a gentle kiss, but as soon as their lips met, the air between them crackled with unspoken tension.
What started as a light touch deepened quickly into something much more heated. Hands moved, mouths clashing with an urgency that seemed to demand more. The intensity knocked a jar of cherries to the floor, its contents spilling in a forgotten mess.
Cal (Char) couldn't help herself, trailing hot, hungry kisses down Juliet's (P'Fa) neck, each touch sending shivers through her. Juliet (P'Fa) could feel it—the unmistakable stirrings of her vampire nature awakening, her fangs beginning to elongate against her will.
Fangs, she muttered, her voice barely a whisper, hoping Cal (Char) would understand the warning.
Knife, Cal (Char) whispered back, her tone steady but charged with anticipation.
Unable to hold back any longer, Juliet (P'Fa) succumbed to the primal urge within her. She sank her fangs into Cal's (Char) neck, the taste of blood filling her senses. Cal (Char) gasped in pain, her body tensing before she swiftly pulled away, grabbing a knife from the counter. Without a second thought, she plunged it into Juliet's (P'Fa) heart.
Juliet (P'Fa) let out a soft gasp of shock before her body crumpled to the floor, breath stopping as her life drained away.
I hope there's more to this story, Cal (Char) murmured softly, placing a delicate kiss on Juliet's (P'Fa) forehead. With one last look, she turned and fled from the room, leaving behind a silence that felt as heavy as the moments that had just passed.
Scene: The next day.
Cal walked into school with her head down, wrestling with a storm of conflicting thoughts. She'd kissed Juliet, felt the spark between them, and even tasted the sweetness of her blood. But vampires were monsters, plain and simple. Her family had drilled that into her. And no matter how much she liked Juliet—no matter how human Juliet seemed—her duty was clear. She had to kill the monsters.
As she entered the hallway, her heart skipped a beat. There, standing in front of her with a carefree smile, was Juliet (P'Fa). Cal (Char) froze, her mouth hanging open in disbelief. She thought Juliet was gone, finished. But here she was, alive—well, not quite alive, but far from dead.
I can explain, Juliet (P'Fa) said, her voice light, as if it were no big deal.
Cal (Char) shook her head in a daze. You should be dead.
Juliet (P'Fa) shrugged casually, unbothered. I'm not that easy to kill. I'm sorry for biting you, Juliet added, her tone softer now. I couldn't control myself.
Cal (Char) crossed her arms, her lips twisting into a sardonic smile. Kinky, if it's you, P'Fa, but that bite hurt. I still have the marks.
Juliet (P'Fa) looked at her neck in mock concern. That should go away soon. And don't worry, I'll make a note that you like biting, she winked, clearly amused.
Cal (Char) couldn't help but laugh, the tension in her body finally breaking. You're something else, P'Fa.
Red: Vampire vs. Hunter | Green: Bond
Want to have some fun? Juliet (P'Fa) asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Cal (Char) grinned. She pressed the red button. Let's meet up after the parent-teacher conference tonight. Juliet (P'Fa) smiled and leaned in, planting a quick kiss on Cal's (Char) cheek. I don't think that's a part of this story, she teased.
Cal (Char) blushed, her fingers brushing against her cheek where Juliet had kissed her. Who cares? See you tonight.
Later that evening, under the cover of darkness, Juliet (P'Fa) and Cal (Char) met up by the back entrance of the school. The night air was cool and quiet, their footsteps muffled by the stillness of the campus.
Follow me, Juliet (P'Fa) whispered, her voice carrying just enough to break the silence but not enough to alert anyone nearby. Cal (Char) trailed after her, careful to make no noise, every step calculated in case someone passed by.
Where are we going? Cal (Char) asked, a mix of curiosity and excitement in her voice.
Juliet (P'Fa) shot a sly grin over her shoulder as she sprinted up the stairs. The roof.
Cal (Char) followed, adrenaline kicking in, heart racing. There was something thrilling about the secrecy, the shared moment of rebellion against the rules. And Juliet? Juliet made it feel like there was no other place she'd rather be.
Seriously? Mortal Kombat? Cal (Char) crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing in mock disapproval.
FINISH HIM! Juliet (P'Fa) laughed, her playful grin widening as she taunted her opponent. Are you scared you won't win?
Cal (Char) scoffed, raising an eyebrow. I'm scared your loser ass won't be able to touch me, and you'll start crying.
Juliet (P'Fa) smiled wickedly before launching the first punch. Cal (Char) skillfully dodged it, but the playful back-and-forth soon escalated, punches starting to land with more force and aggression.
Woah! That one hurt.
Cal (Char) caressed the side of her arm, her gaze fixed on Juliet with a mix of defiance and curiosity. Something wrong?
Juliet (P'Fa) threw another punch, this one landing just shy of Cal's face. Why won't you just say what you feel?
The air shifted. Juliet's playful grin faded into something more dangerous as her fangs emerged, her eyes gleaming with an intensity that matched her new ferocity.
Are we still playing around? Cal (Char) pulled a knife from the waistband of her pants. Guess not.
That won't kill me, Juliet (P'Fa) said coolly, then swiftly kicked Cal (Char) in the stomach. Cal staggered back, groaning as she hit the floor.
Not my intention. Juliet stood over her, looking down with a mix of frustration and something deeper.
If you'd just told me what you feel, we wouldn't be in this mess, Juliet (P'Fa) said, her voice soft but biting.
Cal (Char) groaned, struggling to stand. How is this my fault? You haven't said anything either. She shot back, voice laced with frustration.
Juliet (P'Fa) tripped her, sending her tumbling backward onto the floor, where they both landed in a tangle of limbs. Juliet's eyes darkened, her tone growing more serious. I just want you to be honest. Is that so hard to do?
They rolled across the floor, the tension building between them with every movement. Cal (Char) managed to overpower Juliet (P'Fa), pinning her beneath her. What do you want me to say?, she demanded, breathless from the struggle.
Juliet (P'Fa) stared up at her, eyes intense and unreadable. The truth, she whispered, her voice heavy with unspoken words.
After waiting for a response that never came, Juliet (P'Fa) shoved Cal (Char) off of her, frustration etched on her face. Never mind. She turned sharply and walked toward the door, leaving Cal alone in the dimly lit space.
But Cal (Char) wasn't going to let her leave like that. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she sprinted after Juliet. Before Juliet could exit the building, Cal grabbed her, pulling her into a tight, desperate hug. I'm sorry, she whispered into Juliet's hair, her voice thick with emotion. I get that you want me to be honest, and I swear sometimes I just want to scream it to the world. But I can't... I'm sorry, P'Fa. I do love you, but I'm still not 100% sure if it's in that way. Juliet (P'Fa) sighed, a mix of pain and resignation in her eyes. Plus, you flirt with everyone, Cal (Char) continued, her voice quieter now, vulnerable. I will always feel insecure that you might love someone else and cheat on me.
Juliet (P'Fa) closed her eyes, letting out a long, shaky breath. Her heart felt heavy. I'm in love with you, but I can't keep waiting for you to make up your mind, Char. If you think it's better to stay friends, just tell me. I'll move on.
The words hung in the air between them, and for a moment, everything else seemed to disappear.
Gamekeeper #6 has edited the game choices.
Red: Tell her the truth | Green: Stay as friends.
Cal (Char) stood there, her heart racing, as the weight of Juliet's (P'Fa) words hung heavily in the air. The pressure was almost suffocating, as if an invisible clock were ticking down in the background. Every second that passed felt like a lifetime, and the fear of making the wrong choice gnawed at her insides.
Even they want a response. So, what will it be?
The choices flashed before her eyes, their significance impossible to ignore. The stakes were high, and deep down, Cal knew if she didn't make a decision now, it might be too late. The thought of losing Juliet was unbearable, but she couldn't shake the fear that was holding her back, something deep inside that she couldn't explain or face just yet.
Cal took a shaky breath, her fingers hovering over the buttons. She could feel her pulse in her fingertips, the pressure mounting. Finally, her voice cracked as she spoke, barely above a whisper. I—I don't want to lose you, P'Fa. Her heart ached with the words, but they were the truth. I'd rather be friends than lose you if a relationship fails.
With trembling hands, Cal pressed the green button. I hope you understand.
The air felt thick with unspoken emotions, and as she stood there, a heavy silence fell between them. For a moment, it seemed like nothing would ever be the same again.
SYSTEM ERROR.
GAME SYSTEM HAS CRASHED.
PLEASE USE CODE 7392 TO OVERRIDE.
SYSTEM OVERRIDE IN PROGRESS...
OVERRIDE SUCCESSFUL. SYSTEM RESTORED.
OVERRIDE INITIATED BY GAMEKEEPER #1.
AUTHENTICATION COMPLETE. FULL SYSTEM CONTROL REINSTATED.