THUMP THUMP THUMP

The dreaded noise of the bladed mech scaling the fire exit stairway, being an adept climber too, this thing seemed to know it all when it came to chasing me down. As for me, I’d be damned if I fall there now, and I’m not going to sit by and idly watch them catch me.

I took flight, pulling myself up the strings tied to the staircase with the ferocity of a restless adrenaline-rushed rock climber. After I pulled myself on the other end of the broken stairs, unsurprisingly, the mech stubbornly continued ascending.

It was a wonder how it fit inside the fire exit, though that just pissed me off more than anything.     

“Just die you damn thing!” I yelled while chucking debris and rocks at it on the edge, it didn’t react to it, then I remembered. I barely needed the conscious input, as long as I had my arms reached.  

“MALWARE PROTOCOL: (TIER 1) CAST STRINGS”

I aimed the strings toward the thing, which in all of its gleam and fancy proved as effective as actual yarn in battle. The mech found it more of a nuisance and even ignored it entirely while ascending, I hope it would’ve at least slowed it down but alas. 

“Ha—! Wait—” I reeled my strings back with sweat running down my forehead— It was getting hot in here— Just now, the armblade’s damage was causing the entire wall to melt along the staircase.

“No more fooling around, I need something better than this garbage.” I ran up the stairs, firstly pushing the fourth-floor doors, No luck, being barricaded on the other side, up another floor I went.

The fifth floor of the emergency stairs looked the most concerning, with cracks and shaky walls— like it could collapse at a moment's notice— with the mech’s steam clouding the place.

My heart skips a beat each thump as I fanned away at the blazing emergency exits. Although it was ironic that the fire exit caught fire, the humor factor diminishes quite a lot when you’re a part of the punch line. 

Wait, I could use this in my favor. 

“Don’t fail me now,” I mutter before releasing strings from both my hands, wrapping them through the cracks and slits of the structure of the emergency stairs.

If my puny efforts couldn’t knock the mech down for good, having the building fall on it would surely do the job. However, I found little strength— insufficient force— to properly tear it apart and collapse the wall— giving ample time for the mech to continue its ascent—    

“Just what is this good for? nothing!” I cry, scratching my head, infuriation running through my mind. This was my answer for sure, but why couldn’t I do it?

What else did I have that could knock this down? I’ve never been inadequate, or lacking, I always had what it took to make things happen but, this event— situation— whatever you call it, has only ever made me feel more powerless than I’ve ever been, like I could just stop here and let nature take it’s course.  

THUMP THUMP THUMP

Malware! Is everything alright? “Huh?” My eyes dart around the room, searching for his familiar voice— my supervisor's voice— Never thought I’d be happy hearing his voice but, he’s here.

Where? I erase all priorities for finding a familiar face in my cruel situation. However, this proved in vain as the cramped emergency stairs housed no one but myself and the mech below me.

However, this only envigored my spirit, reminding me that my new beginning was still within reach, just now had I finally uprooted myself from the troubles of my past, I can’t let that go to waste by being stuck here, there must be a way out, I shouldn’t lose my hope.

I tried to push the door open expecting resistance, but merely grazing it would cause it to detach from the frame, careen down the fourth floor, and strike the makeshift barricades below. 

I stumble forward, nearly falling in with the door itself, I clung on the door frame while leaning to puke, the putrid stench of— rotting fish?— and similarly to the entrance, the place was overrun by moss, ferns and all sorts of plant life.

However, the interior windows remained unobfuscated, giving me a clear view of the main grounds, and something sparkling below the dome, guarded by the other mech patrolling the grounds.   

“Supervisor! Anyone? what happened here…” my voice reduces to a whimper, horrified eyes. This place wasn’t just abandoned for the night as I’d hoped, it was beyond saving— left for years, even decades... how long was I truly gone for?  

THUMP THUMP THUMP BOOM

I turn to see the blade-wielding mech’s half-body looming over me, with the ominous red lights pouring over me while charging a stab with its weapon right into me.

Humming restlessly while devastating everything in its wake… I found myself staring at that very weapon, but, despite how warm it should be, my body only remembered the bitter coldness on that rainy night, below the footbridge while flood water wetted my hair.

None of this is real, I repeat to myself, nothing should be feared, yet… 

Locking eyes with that humming blade, looking at death right now it felt all too familiar… all too real, I try so hard to discredit what’s happening ahead of me that I cower so helplessly.   

Stop thinking... I keep shuffling between the past and the future that I couldn’t move, and it makes me nauseous. For once I had to move into the now— the present— I have death staring me in the face and the best I could do is think of people who couldn’t give a damn if I’m alive or not!

Click

And just like that, in the flip of a switch, a thrill of adrenaline rushed through my entirety, this indescribable sensation of detachment from every problem that I had. It was liberating like I could just toss all my problems in the bin and let go of all of it…

This monstrous feeling, powered only by the gambit of life and death, to dangle oneself between losing everything and having it all, was sickening— I'm not too fond of risks— but, my mind couldn’t restrain this addictive taste in my head. 

I was tired of excusing things I didn’t understand, to handicap myself purposely, I had to put my foot down and I needed that now! 

“Enough excuses!” I yelled before hurling myself down the fourth floor, the edge of the blade tickling my heel with its warmth.

I landed down the ruined barricade and broke through the now unbarricaded fire exit below, reinvigorated with determined eyes, I released my hands wide open, while my head ran this time, grounding myself to what was happening right now.       

“MALWARE PROTOCOL: (TIER 1) CAST STRINGS”

Like clockwork, I pin the mech in place, tying a knot on their exposed legs, containing them inside the emergency staircase. There was a lack of firepower on my behalf— my protocol was the shining example of that—, but I could delay them for as long as I needed, and If I couldn’t collapse the emergency stairs like I hoped, then maybe… 

I could make someone who could, do it for me. 

SMASH 

I threw my fist through the interior window with ease— I wasn’t always this strong, was I?— “Over here!” I yelled across the main ground and to my intended receiver. 

The droning mech fires up with life— like a revving engine— it screeches to my presence, yellow searchlights turning red.

It was expected, because I’d rely on that thing's aggression since my spot on the fifth floor gave me a proper diagonal view of the main ground, then it must be the opposite, making their line of sight aim for the emergency stairs.  

The mech immediately raised its arm cannon, aligning it to me, with me staying in place. It soon after fired, intending to end me like always. It remained oblivious that it had just signed its partner’s execution.

But before It struck, I fired my strings once more— for the last time— towards freedom, towards the glass dome that these mechs broke in through, That sparkling light below the dome, was my way out. 

BOOM
The cannon shell goes off, and soon after, the shattering of a dozen or so window panels adjacent to the explosion. Not just the emergency stairs, but the entire office floor collapsed, sinking into one wreck. 

While I swung away, a notification popped on the bottom left, “Tutorial Goal: Eliminate 1/2 ???” a trace of a smile grew slowly on me while seeing the offices get demolished. 

These strings, despite their lousy appearance, proved durable beyond my expectations and despite initially being disappointed with them and there was more to them at a glance, I just wasn’t in the proper mindset to utilize them properly, 

While I grapple through air-striking pillars and walls with my strings, the dome’s light turns brighter as I close the distance, 

BOOM BOOM BOOM 

The remaining mech lagged, unable to hit me properly as I grappled diagonally, with zigzag motions with my strings, until I was below the light of the dome itself, landing on the floor, grazing my foot to slow my momentum. 

I give the mech a final stare before firing my strings from all my fingers upwards,  subsequently, flinging myself up

A volley of shells pummeled my vicinity, I zip towards the fifth-story glass dome, facing resistance from the gusts of wind which resisted my wish. The closer I reach that light— that wakeness to snap me from this illusion— The more I see the visions of yesterday, with my eyes struggling to open against the breeze, I can replay it vividly. 

Of the landlord and my confrontation with her, “It’s Malware, I’m here to pay the debt on my mother’s behalf.”, she ridicules me for my lack of current success.

“Not anyone could just say they’ve freed themselves of debt.” and how taunts me of my shameful past self.

“Where was the Malware that used to be free-spirited and loving? She used to be so full of hope...” And… And?

“Your life is inadequate, incomplete, and you’re envious, look at yourself.”

My eyes slammed wide open, and a crooked chill blitzed through my spine while the vision of the landlord’s lifeless face uttered words I couldn’t recall.

Yet, a rushing frustration filled my thoughts, as I remembered how her words contorted my thoughts— to do so again was proof of inhumanity… words no ordinary human would say. 

What, what did that mean? What did any of this mean? 

All I know is that I must make my way back there, resume my life, and live it as I deserve— Inadequate? Incomplete? Envious? And what if I were all those things now, would they all matter tomorrow, to the future, and the new me? 

It was merely an insignificance— a spec— that I’ll step on, on my way to fix whatever went wrong right now. All I had to do was reach that light beyond that glass dome,    

Head first, I sped past each floor with minimal effort, my hands lowered themselves as I gathered the proper amount of momentum to make it there, without the need for my strings, I might’ve overcompensated, and gone a little faster than I should’ve. 

Bathing in the light of freedom— my eyes saw it— the blinding embrace of my success and happiness…

SLAM— CRACK 

‘Gah—” I groaned in reflex, my blurry vision could make out minuscule red hexagons— Barriers!— “No” I reached my hand but was only met with a familiar text message.  

“Complete the tutorial to open this barrier.” 

My vision started to dim, but in my defiance, I clung to consciousness despite having sped face-first against it. To be so close yet so far, as the light dimmed and darkened, before cascading into the typical morning skies. 

Did I chase a mirage? — like a desert wanderer deluding of oasis in the horizon— Did I stoop to such desperate delusions? 

BOOM 

I plummeted onto the main floor, back first, gritted teeth and a pair of shaky knees, despite the second time falling like that.

It didn’t make it any less painful, on the contrary, my blood boiled more, and my veins were about to pop right now, while the ringing in my ears echoed in my head like the insulting laughter of children— laughing at me for being so stupid— frustrating myself more.   

Then I hear it, the light movement of my adversary, and the churning of its machinery,  arm cannon pointed straight at my forehead. At first, my eyes flutter at their looming shadow but soon enough I sigh, “Just get on with it!” I demand while I slam my clenched fist on the crater I laid on…

Nothing...

it seems to have suddenly grown pity for me now that I’ve become wholehearted in accepting my fate, my eyes narrow and my vision darkens around the edges. “I’m right here! Just do it.” I spun myself upright and aligned my head right in front of the barrel,  locking it in place with both my hands,   

SLASH SLASH SLASH

The mech goes quiet, suddenly marked with three deep red cuts all around it, before being diced and cut through by a random bystander wearing a black coat.

However, at this point, I had become so overcome by emotion that my mind couldn’t comprehend what was before me, besides the extension of my arms and the bystander melding with the darkness surrounding my vision. 

SLASH

And soon after, exhaustion took me…