In Aria's apartment, the quarters emitted—an eerie feel where people engulfed in their deep state of slumber since the sun hasn't risen yet.
The deafening kind of silence was cut short until it broke from the suddenness of the alarm. In this, it has drawn the awakening of Aria's consciousness. Therefore, she will proceed to do her daily routine of doing writing gameplay storylines.
As a writer, Aria thought that she already has everything she wants in life. The truth is, it's not—it's not always easy being a writer. It's not as glamorous as movies make it seem. In the real world, it takes a lot of effort to write from where you want or what you want it to be.
It needs dedication and conviction to make it into a career. As much as skill and passion are important, it's even more important to have that dedication to turn your passion into a living.
It's like you entered it with the most optimistic and most passionate version of yourself. You wanted to write not just because you have that skill and talent to do so. You wanted to write, not to boost your capabilities as a writer, but for—the sole purpose that you wanted to move and inspire people—through the power of your words.
Art is supposed to make you something like magic flows through your veins of your creativity and imagination, and writing is one of the most underrated forms of art that exists.
This is what she decided, and that's her goal to fulfil her wishes.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ, ᴀᴡᴀᴋᴇɴɪɴɢ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ sᴏᴜʟs, ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴇɢᴇɴᴅs ᴏғ ᴀʏɪʀᴀ, ʀɪsᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴᴅᴇᴀᴅ, ᴛᴀʟᴇs ᴏғ ᴄᴀsᴛᴇʀs — or any other games that will be released soon at the year of 2025.
All the backgrounds, the storylines, the scripts were mostly written by her. People in the world couldn't help but get interested in how broad her imagination and simplicity of her works. No other reason why people couldn't wait for the upcoming VR gaming. All of them already knew that would break any records from history.
Apparently, all of the above was just one of her dreams.
She wasn't a designer, nor a coder, but a writer that holds extraordinary ideas of gaming. She is also big fond of gaming. Being a gamer is like one of her remedy against anxiety and stress—an escape from the cruel reality at some point.
Last previous months, she became one of the members of the famous high-tech industry, known as ⓜⓥⓡ —Montclair Virtual Reality Gaming Industry.
This time, she was transferred to ZA Team, where they conducted a game about the zombie apocalypse. They need a writer to make up the storylines of the gameplay. And this is her part to join in.
At some point, she got excited from the upcoming thrill beheading to her mind. Well, why not? Aren't they just living undead who eat people's brains or flesh?
And everyone. . .erm. . .will go mayhem against all those zombies through the weapons they create. No schools, no jobs but to survive at any cost. Go adventure and meet more people to save. Idk if it sounds exciting for you, but it's exciting for us, as the gamers.
Sometimes, it can be really intriguing.
The sound of tapping against the keys—is soft and powerfully subtle as her fingers typing with ease; emitted a soothing aura - as tranquil as a rain.
In her laptop, she saw her writings from the first chapter. She made this story as a storyline of gameplay called, ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪsᴇ ᴏғ ᴜɴᴅᴇᴀᴅ.
It was a story about a young girl from a real-world transferred to the post-apocalyptic world that became a princess and should bear the next heir as a future queen, however, an apocalypse collapses; swarms of zombies invaded their kingdom, spreading the virus to the people and become one of them.
In spite of all, there was a bodyguard, right in the hand of the so-called king, who falls in love with the princess, and swore to protect her but in the end, he failed to do so.
She was planning to make her find her way back to him. But first things first, she needs to train herself and get stronger in order to save more lives.
The goal of the game is one of her mission to save her kingdom, search her family and find the solution of the curse to why it all happened. Perhaps, only if there's an elusive mage to fix it.
In the middle of writing, she was now stuck after the fifteen chapters, where she hardly think of what would be the antidote. Should she add an unaffected creature that carries a strong antibody to fight back the virus?
Well, if she adds that then, it would be hard for the princess to find it since who knows she has to travel the world to find a creature that wasn't affected. Or. . . She would just add a creature that got affected but its blood help to regain and fight the virus for its special case. She can add some special abilities for it...that would be amazing right?
Ugh, it's frustrating somehow. How on Earth would be that easy to find that creature?
Just writing about it, makes her eyes watered. Well, writing can make her have a little amount of money. She needs a job, a proper job. It's hard giving up from what you love—writing some sort of amazing stories—but it was so stupid to keep doing it when it is useless to you when no one appreciates it.
She took the last glimpse of her work, with tired eyes and closed her laptop in shut as she begins to think about her works, realizing how lacking her experience was.
Aria looked at the clock that was already a quarter past seven, well close to 7:30 am, which is the time she must be at work. Luke should have been waiting for her now. She tapped the button of the printer and print the rest of the chapters.
She ran hastily to the bathroom and clumsily tripped from the blankets that were strolled over the floor; causing her to fall forward and land flat on her face against the floor as she mumbled multiple curses on her way then, slammed the door.
After several minutes, there was a knock on the door. Even though, she hardly prepared herself at the moment. Her black hair dripping wet from a newly bath. This time she hurried to the door, not wanting Luke to wait any longer.
The door clicked, a familiar presence stepped in, revealing Luke with his MVR uniform, her partner on AZ Team.
It was a coincidence that he lived the next door of her apartment. I'm sure that some of the readers from romance novels will be squealing like a fan school girl as if they would be meet a bad boy just right after their doors.
And no, there was nothing special about this guy. Sweet, polite and gentlemen but nerd, when it comes into codings, and computers.
It's kind of, out of the picture as a bad type of guy.
He was a tall, broad build with tousled charcoal hair about a height of six feet. His nose was sharp, like hawklike menacingly, with chubby cheeks. Well, his eyes. . . didn't seem normal as the others. They were large, calm and full of propitious. Their shade of green was unlikely anything she'd ever seen.
Compared to his height, she was short. Whenever she tried to pat or reach his shoulder, she had to be on her toes. Skinny and a little clumsy. There was nothing special about her.
Those eyes locked into hers as if they were sucking her soul whenever she looks at it. A couple of minutes passed by, she finally blinked.
He noticed it as the corners of Luke's lips turned up slightly, and spoke, "How long have you been writing?" those words were said with amusing tone.
"I woke up early at around 3 am and finish it in five hours." She yawned, drying her hair with a towel.
"Not even breakfast?"
"No.."
He made a chuckle, while she gave him a glare. Writing can be exhausted y' know.
"Well then, better get ready before the clock strike at 7:30 pm. We wouldn't want our Boss to get mad, won't we?"
Aria scoffed, as she combed her hair in few seconds and quickly grabbed her things, and leaned over the other corner to pick up her manuscripts that had already finished printing.
She had already changed her uniform, after her bath. But breakfast is an exception. She never had time to cook and dig in, waiting for more couple minutes. She wondered if Trish's Cafè shop is available.
"I'm ready."
Luke raised his eyebrows and gazed at the open door that hasn't locked yet.
Oh right, the keys.
She dashed again to her room and pick up her keys then, finally she locked the door.
Both of them went out of the apartment.
As they arrived outside, she was not surprised to see a blue car parked in front of the yard. She knew it belonged to him. Ever since she met him, she found out he worked for the same company as she has. He didn't hesitate and kindly give her a ride whenever they headed to their work. At first, she kindly refused his offer.
But in the end, he won the argument.
It wasn't like he had a family or friends to company with. He is willing to have a nice friend like her to go with, in fact, he was always alone in the apartment. She still couldn't understand why he treats her kindly and being nice to her.
This time she rode his car heading to work.
Aria placed the manuscripts and her other things at the back seat of the car and moved to the right seat beside the driver seat. She grabbed the seat belt and adjusted it then, tuck it on. She turned around and found Luke gazed at her while sitting across from her. Why is he looking at me like that?
She blinked to Luke and say. "What?"
"Nothing." He blinked and cursed on his thoughts. 'I'm losing it again.' He couldn't understand why he was feeling this way. He had confirmed one thing—he had confirmed that he had grown more feelings on her. The strings were there: whenever they talked, on how they gazed each other and treated one another.
He vaguely remembered how he felt the first time he'd seen her through when she came at the apartment. It was strong and unbearing; he couldn't stand the attention she gave to him. He didn't know if she had noticed it nor know his feeling yet. But, he made sure that there would be one day, he will show his feelings and confess to her.
"Since you haven't taken your breakfast. Where are you going to buy for it?" he turned the keys and started the engine.
"I wonder if Trish's Cafe shop is available. I'm missed one of her pastries and I'm sure I am craving whenever I think of it." there was an eagerness on her eyes when she mentioned the pastries. It would be to a little rude to go there with him.
Luke chuckled and started to drive towards the said shop. The Cafe was barely a mile away. It took only five minutes to get there. When they reached the area, Aria saw the shop was opened, and couldn't wait and tell Luke to go and park and she would take order for the meals.
The pleasant smell of freshly baked cakes and some brewed coffee in the air, filled her nose as her stomach growled by smelling it. The shop was filled with many customers, chattering away lightheartedly, enjoying their meal and doing their business.
In the corner, Aria saw Trish holding a tray and serving the customers. "Bon Appetít!" 'Enjoy your meal'. she greeted them with a wide smile on her face, before whisking away from their tables.
When both of them entered the shop, they didn't know the time had already past 7:30 am.
Another order with a cappuccino, coffee chains and morphed into mochaccinos, frappuccinos and pumpkin-spice-doughnut-flavoured caffeinated milkshakes. Trish wiped her sweat across her forehead with the back of her palms. "Mad Cranberry Delight and Vanilla Milkshakes coming right up!" she announced.
Smiling, Trish balanced a tray of pastries on one arm and two milkshakes on another, walking towards another table.
The doorbell chimed to see a new couple customer entered the shop with the same uniform; one was a tall, broad guy with tousled black hair and the other was a short, skinny girl with ebony hair. The two familiar figures caught Trish's attention.
"Trish!"Aria exclaimed and ran towards her.
"Watch out!" Trish yelled out and hold her tray simultaneously in tight; which was filled with milkshakes. She made sure these items wouldn't fall off due to her obstinacy.
Aria made a grin, and tried to reach out the other tray that has pastries and cheesecakes on it.
"Oh no, no... .no! That is not for you. If you are going to steal some, you will have the responsibility to make it." Trish trying to raise the tray away from her. It was a good thing, she was short.
"I'm trying to help you so I could have some." Aria diverted her gaze and looked at the pastries with ease.
"Ahuh, I don't think so."
"Please?"
Trish sighed, and say, "Fine, make sure you serve that on table 8."
"Will do."
Aria could smell the aroma of the pastries and decided to do what Trish asked, then gave the order to the customer. While Luke waited in the corner, who seemed to be amused by her actions.
In the middle of serving, she grabbed some pastries on the counter and ate some, trying hard to not let Trish notice but got scolded in the end. She continued what she has to do, forgetting the time from her work.
Suddenly, shrill screams were heard from outside.
The customers wondered, 'what was going on.' until everyone started to run elsewhere in panic. This made Aria and other servers including Trish to halt from what they're doing.
People from outside started to faint for some reason. Some started to cough, and some were struggling to breathe. No one knew that those people fainted had caught a high fever.
Aria suddenly began to sneeze for some reason then, a dull ache instantly went through her head. Her face twisted in agony, in headache. Luke who had been watching her in awhile, called her out with worry.
"Aria!"
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