GAME OVER
The monitor screen displayed the words clear enough.
Another failed attempt. I sighed.
Sitting in a dark basement with trash cluttered everywhere, I felt right at home.
The dark screen of the monitor reflected a haggy looking figure. I looked like a mess. With hair long overdue for a haircut, they couldn't hide the dark circles hanging from my eyes.
The stench from week-old food packages covered every inch of the room. Stained clothes overflowed from my laundry basket, practically invisible under the mess. Empty beer cans cluttered my desk as I clicked on the restart button.
Why was this game so damn hard? I'd spent a good majority of the month stuck to this chair. Every reset clawed away at my sanity. Pride overtaking my fatigue.
The game wasn't popular or impressive. In fact, it was an old niche game that I stumbled on. Still, I couldn't help myself from playing it over and over. There was just something about it that kept me hooked.
It was a typical RPG — the kind that had flooded the market. My Dream account was filled with RPGs of every flavor.
Each one had hundreds of hours sunk into it. My family and friends had grown concerned over my hobby long ago.
A framed photo of my younger self with my family stood unnoticed at the corner of my desk, hidden beneath all the filth.
I caught a glimpse of it. My restless fingers froze for a moment.
In the picture, my parents still looked proud of me. My brother and I stood on either side with wide grins plastered on our faces. It was the ideal family.
It brought back memories I didn't want to remember. A past I couldn't go back to.
Not after what happened.
I turned the photo to face the wall and went back to clicking on my keyboard. This was my life now. And I liked it.
Tak-tak-tak.
My screen showed a geared-up knight facing a dragon. I had spent the majority of the month grinding up the character. Skipping dinner just to grind a few levels had become a ritual. My chin couldn't help but rise higher looking at the results of my hardwork.
The interface was as basic as any low-graphics RPG.
My attention locked onto the dragon's movements. This enemy had kept me stuck for weeks. It's attack patterns were randomized. What's worse? It's skills had massive AOE, making dodging a nightmare. Expecting it to lunge at any moment, I gripped my mouse tighter.
BOOM!
There it was!
I slammed the movement keys, barely dodging in time. While the dragon recharged, my character advanced, and I triggered my skill. I executed this sequence with practiced familiarity.
CLANK! CLANK!
The dragon's health bar dropped sharply, but it was far from over. The lower its health got, the closer it came to triggering it's second phase.
Every darn boss fight in this game had a second phase, because of course it had to.
I braced myself for the next attack. I'd been fighting this damn dragon all day — and losing.
I went through the first phase with relative ease as I prepared myself for the inevitable second phase.
The dragon wavered as it's health bar dropped into the activation zone. And there it was, the dreaded phase had begun.
Every movement and decision carried immense weight. The dragon had taken a new shape.
It was bigger, uglier and stronger. Worse of all, it became even more unpredictable.
Still, I managed to drag down its health. To lower even an inch of the bar, I had to play it extremely safe and avoid the feints while parrying and striking back at just the right timing.
Come on, just a bit more.
The knight and dragon traded blows again and again. One wrong move would cost me the run. I couldn't afford that, not now.
Whenever my health bar got too low, I'd heal — but it was barely keeping me alive. The dragon's health felt infinite compared to mine.
The fight dragged on.
At last, I needed just one more hit to secure the kill. One hit, and I'd finally clear this cursed part of the game.
But before that, I had to dodge one last strike. Only then could I land the finishing blow.
Both of us were at our last sliver of health. The next move would decide the victor.
Right as the dragon reared its head to attack—
RING RING RING!
My ringtone jolted me out of focus.
That was all it took.
I snapped my gaze back to the screen. What I feared had already happened.
GAME OVER.
The same words plastered across the monitor.
I sat there in silent disbelief, the darkness swallowing my expression. The PC's cooling fan whirred, trying its best to cool down the situation.
Its efforts weren't good enough. Someone had to take the blame.
Picking up my phone, I checked the caller ID.
It was an unsaved number.
Confusion replaced my anger.
I hardly talked to anyone. Aside from my family, I could count the people I knew on one hand — and still have fingers left over.
I thought about calling back, maybe venting my frustration at whoever it was. The idea almost tempted me.
But I managed to stop myself.
Thinking back on my actions, I let out a breath. It was just a game, after all. I could always try again later.
I checked the time. 8 p.m.
Strange. Mom would've called my name by now for dinner.
I stood up from my chair and made my way through the mess.
As I climbed up the stairs, the silence overtook my senses. I couldn't hear a single voice.
The thought unsettled me. My steps hastened as I made my way out of the basement.
There was no one in sight.
I tried to calm down but this sinking feeling threatened to tear my mind with every second.
I checked every room in the house for any sign of them. Every empty room nurtured the fear I felt.
Finally, I made my way towards the kitchen.
My mind went blank.
Laid out across the table was the meal that mom had prepared for us. The steam still rising from the food.
The aroma of the meal rafted into my nose. The smell triggered a growl from my stomach. My hunger brought me out of my trance as I regained composure.
I took a seat on the chair I usually occupied.
Surrounding me were three other empty chairs, reminding me of their absence.
Maybe they were playing a prank on me. They had to be.
All I had to do was wait for a while and they would all come back. Smiles plastered on their faces. Calling me out for my laziness and reprimanding me like usual.
Right, I just had to wait.
And they would all be here again.
But what if they didn't? What would I do then?
The thought lingered for a second too long. I gathered myself and headed out to ask the neighbours. Maybe they were in on it too.
I would find them all there.
Definitely.
...
Right?
I wasted no time and darted out of the house. Each passing second felt like I was being suffocated with silence. I couldn't bare to stay inside with my own thoughts.
Unlocking the door, I so dearly wished to hear any sign of life outside.
Anything at all.
But all my prayers were for naught.
Still nothing.
It seemed as though the world had abandoned me altogether. Left to rot by myself.
My steps were weaker now. Still, I made my way to the neighbour's house.
I didn't really know them that well. Nevertheless, all I wanted now was to see them and get along with them.
Standing outside their frontdoor, I pressed the doorbell once.
No reply.
Again...
Still no reply.
Whatever hope I had left in me was disappearing quick.
No sound, no nothing.
Right as I was about to give up...
CLACK.
The door opened.
A girl around my age stood on the other side. She looked to be about my age. With puffed eyes and tear streaks on her face, her expression shifted to relieve.
Her voice cracked as she spoke.
"Please..hic... Help me, please. "