Hands trembled as she reached up to feel her face, which had become more gaunt during her time in the gaming pod. Across from her, the reflection in the mirror was familiar, yet it felt like she hadn't seen this sight of herself in a long time.
The appearance of the player in-game was customisable, but there was also the option to match it with real life. Faye had chosen the second option, but now the hollow cheeks and tired eyes staring back at her felt like a cruel reminder of how much the game had taken a toll on her.
Life as an NPC might have seemed simple: following orders, giving out quest instructions, and waiting for the next player to enter the bookshop. But once the Main Computer had lost control of her, it had become more exhausting.
Then came being a player, and with no time to adjust, she had to fight against the Main Computer, whilst trying to figure out her new identity.
Several months had passed since she returned to real life, but she still felt like she was finding her footing. The world outside of the game had continued, whilst her time had stopped inside that pod.
She walked down streets that she had been down before, with sights she had encountered before. Yet something had changed, or perhaps it was she who was different. Nothing about her was the same, nor was anything around her.
It was still a struggle to move around, as her muscles slowly relearned how to carry her weight, and her body ached from the inactivity of lying down for so long.
Every step felt foreign, as if she had trouble remembering the rhythm of her own body in a world that had kept moving forward.
At present, she felt like going for a walk to help rehabilitate herself and pick up some stuff she needed along the way. And she had just rounded the corner of the street when she almost bumped into someone.
Looking up, she recognised them instantly; it was someone she had known before entering the game.
An old friend, whose face remained the same, although hers had not. She stood there in a daze, momentarily hesitating to speak. The person seemed to be in a similar state, as though they hadn't expected to see her.
Faye went to open her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't form like she wanted; they felt foreign, like her tongue didn't quite belong to her anymore.
The friend overcame their shock, which turned into surprise and then relief that confused Faye. Had they been close before the game? She couldn't quite remember; it had been so long since she had seen someone she knew.
"Faye?" Tears sprang to the person's eyes, and their hands landed on her shoulders. The touch jolted her, and she felt both comforted and uneasy. "Where have you been?"
Faye stepped back, causing their arms to fall back to their sides. An awkwardness hung in the air, but for Faye it was even more so. Taking a deep breath, her throat tight, and said, barely above a whisper: "I... I don't know."
It sounded strange, but it would take too long to explain what had happened. Even if she were to explain, would they even believe her? Although the gaming pods were a popular thing, players turning into NPCs and being hunted by the Main Computer was too bizarre.
Her friend smiled and said, "It's okay. I'm just happy to see you again. When you disappeared, everyone was searching for you. Jerr has been more worried than anyone else, and is still looking till this day."
Nodding absentmindedly, Faye struggled to listen to their words; her mind had drifted elsewhere. Tangled in memories no one else outside of the game world would understand. Guilt weighed down on her as thoughts mixed in with those memories of what her disappearance had done to her friends.
The time in the pod had overtaken her life to where she couldn't remember the faces of the people she had known in reality. But to hear that there were people worried about her safety, happiness almost overwhelmed the feelings of unease. She was glad that at least one of them had found her; however, the guilt still lingered.
How could she ever explain what she had seen, done, and all the other experiences?
Her thoughts drifted to the year spent inside the pod - to the comfort of the bookshop and her favourite seat by the window, the endless players who would badger her with questions. She also missed the friends she had made along the way: Nox, Ashlyn, Jarreth...
She forced herself to take a steady breath and take in the world around her. It helped to feel a little more grounded, and seeing the concern in the eyes of the friend opposite helped even more so. That reminded her that she had returned to the world outside of the game, and this was only the beginning of her new life.
"Speaking of Jarr, here he comes now." The friend looked past Faye's shoulder and waved to the person coming up behind her.
Faye turned, and shock washed over her anew. The figure had blonde hair, a hero-like appearance and a sunny smile that seemed to light up the night sky. And it was directed at Faye, whom the person had recognised instantly.
His amiable appearance was the same as in the game, with only slight differences, but Faye knew who this person was instantly. There was something comforting about it; however, the unease somehow grew even more poignant.
The person's smile grew wider as he got closer to her, and he bounded up to her like he had done so many times in the bookshop. "Faye! I didn't think I would run into you out here." His voice carried the same warmth it had always done - to Faye, it felt distant, like a memory she struggled to grab a hold of.
She wanted to step forward and share their stories of the game world, but the words got stuck in her throat.
This was a person from the life that had changed her so much in ways no one could ever fully understand. And yet, seeing him was in truth a relief; like now there was someone to confide in, who had been to that world, and could ease her worries. If only she could open her mouth and voice them.
“Jarreth.” The name slipped from her lips, strange and heavy, as if it hadn’t been spoken in a long time. 155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoJ7gr3I2C
and then Add to home screen.