Sweat runs down the length of my forehead, mixing with the rain. A sort of stand-off commences, with neither side budging… what about their threat earlier, was it all a ruse? 

No, that’d be too easy. Their abrupt pause and frozen demeanor were starting to gnaw at my patience.

“Shit… just who are you people?!” I demand with pursed lips and narrowed eyes. They didn’t seem to register my question and discussed it between themselves…  

Whatever they were considering in front of us, it wasn’t about me or him. I assumed it was something way larger in scope, for them to freeze up like that without any apparent reason simultaneously must mean… 

“Psst…” Firewall whispers, tugging at my crop top from behind, making me tilt my eyes slightly so that our adversaries wouldn’t be alerted. Gesturing his seeing it only adds up to a bar, 2/3rds were still missing, the teleporter required all three bars filled, that’s what I assume at least. 

“You think that’s enough?” I mutter back, he shrugs his shoulders, being as unconfident as I when deducing how the device properly functioned.  

And before we’d conduct any meaningful exchange, the lady would resume.“We’re Aetheria, but not that it matters! So long as everyone is eliminated off this game~!.” She celebrates with her highest pitch, almost turning me deaf.  

click

A hail of rockets shortly descended upon us, blinding me in an all-consuming red light. Not even a second passed yet the perpetrator had conjured so many… 

I froze in place, star-struck, I’d even go as far as to say that the rockets were illustrating an art piece or something, captivating me to stay still in awe… I found myself facing certain death and I looked back with starry eyes— It’s so familiar that I could even reminisce about it… why was it like a videogame?   

“Ah—” I eeked, Firewall pulled me by the arm and caused the radio to slip off my hand, his voice ringing in my head while the rockets whizzed closer “Let’s go.” he muttered while casually lifting my entire weight with him into the teleporter, followed by a flash of light— presumably from entering the teleporter.    

On the other side, the horizon was far and wide, without any buildings in sight the air breathed life, unlike the stagnant stench of the alley. The scenery jarringly cut between night and day. The soft clicking of metal plating sounded mushed and wet—which tickled my feet— was I stepping on grass? I look behind us.   

The teleporter made a portal— a tear through space— seamlessly melding our past and present locations together.

The rift closed soon after, which rid us of our chasers, but without a clue where we were. Furthermore, if it was only charged a third of the way… I glare at him.  

“I thought the teleporter wouldn’t function—” He sternly cuts, “Don’t ask me, It was just a hunch…” He scratched his head, I sighed. Guess I’d overestimated his cunning. 

“Well, it helped us at least, but where do we go now?” I add, crossing my arms. 

Firewall pauses to admire the scenic view— the city becoming little more than smidges from our height.— The winds howled and the rain precipitated in a much lesser volume.  

“The radio tower. It’s our only choice.” He muttered under his breath while re-fixing his sword. Despite the soundness of his idea, I doubt his “And, I assume you know where that is?” I ask. He shook his head.

“Just walk, we’ll come across it eventually.” He rebuts, while his blaring red visor aimed towards the train tracks on the side of the road. Tsk, his methods were surprisingly more brute-forced than his weapon. Though, I shouldn’t have expected less from a man who’d be able to cut his way through anything.   

But what did that make of me? 

?:?? O’clock, gauging from the sun seldom peeks through the clouds, It was roughly noon. Time went on as normal— probably like how it’s going in the real world— damn it… when will I find my way out of here?   

We went on with his initiative, we walked with the empty rail track as our guide while the rain sprinkled over the grassy hills. I admit, It was less abrasive than our earlier encounters downtown, so much so that semblances of sunlight managed to break past the storm wall of clouds.   

Firewall led the way, taking long strides with arms swinging in rhythm. He’d only been a helpful acquaintance and the reason I was standing where I was, but… that’s the problem. 

If this world had any similarities with reality, it’d be that. I could and would only get things done by my means and capabilities, not anyone else. He has been in control since I met him and will remain that way, less I intervene and make myself his equal.

But… why must that be so difficult? Thanks to their protocols, everyone else seems to fare better than me, they have flight, rockets, and swords while I only have strings from my fingertips.

But, that could be another parallel with my reality, myself, and my position in life. Even in this fantasy, I live with one foot in the mud, while everyone gets things handed to them on a platter.

I couldn’t contain it in myself, while my breathing turned ragged and I started clawing at my forehead.  “It’s all unfair!” I yell, with subsequent tears pooling in my eyes. 

My sudden outrage would fall on deaf ears; much to my relief. Firewall would only tilt his head back, signifying confusion without added thought before carrying along like it was urgent business.

Tsk— not like he needed to know my baggage, the burden of having me was way too much; I’ll be fine, being the only guard of these rampant emotions causing me turbulence.   

?:?? Once a road was in sight, we deviated from the rails. The way had gotten steeper and trees were strewn about; it was less hilly but more mountainous. I thought it best to preoccupy my mind with the protocols— restricting my emotions not to get the better of me again— maybe that’s where they pull their power from…

I managed to accumulate 3 points in my journey, one being a freebie, the second eliminating my tutorial sentinels, and the third completing my tutorial. With the projection in front, I unlocked the 1 point-locked options and they added to my protocol.   

; PROTOCOLS 

>TIER 1 — CAST STRINGS 

< ! Strings damage 20HP points per 5 seconds.

< ! Strings malleability can depend on user input. 

< ! Strings glow in the dark. 

Soon my rosy-eyed assumptions quickly cast doubt as soon as I read the text.

For some reason, the points unlock information already present, not add upgrades like how video games do these. It was like, I was using hard-earned points to unlock my protocol’s description— which should’ve been given for free— and didn’t help whatsoever in my attempts to close the gap between me and him. 

The only info I found redeemable was my damage output, which when computed was still abysmal and beyond lackluster, at a whopping 0.25 DPS. With stats like that, I’m worse off than even the weakest enemy, there was no way I’d be able to match anyone with this.

I bite into my hand, keen-eyed to my thoughts while I came to terms with these rather uncomfortable realizations.“Ah!” Unbeknownst to me, he’d supposedly stopped and I tunnel-visioned myself in deep thought. 

We entered something resembling a subdivision street, overgrown, and abandoned; to call it dead would be rightly so. 

He’d usher me aside with his arm, “Eyes on the road, please?” He’d critique, while he gestured the sight of sentinels ahead— A pair like in my tutorial; one ranged, one melee— blocking our way forward, their sights unease me as flashes of my first encounters recall to my head.  

“Stay there, I’ll take this.” He mutters, unperturbed— much to my envy— before wielding his two-armed blade. He’d rush the mechs from the other side of the road, attracting their attention; yellow lights switched to red.  

What followed was a one-sided deconstruction— to the sentinels— like a blink, he’d maneuver around them, matching the bladed sentinel with his sword; parrying its greatsword away with his own and cutting knees first before landing clean slices on their bodies act as the killing blow. Their frames— or what’s left of them— sent flying a couple of meters from the rest of their chassis. 

I couldn’t help but be star-struck when it happened, watching him weave and dash and handle the situation with absolute dominance, only to sink once more as I recall my helplessness— with a soured look on my face. 

Just like that, the two sentinels were dealt with. He waves to me on the other side of the street, signaling that the route is clear.  

I lift my foot to take my first step, only to have it weighed down by a dozen anchors— adding a growing burden on my body and mind. 

 Could I even escape on my own? He doesn’t believe me, why should I come with him?  

My thoughts grew increasingly pessimistic by the second, though I’d manage to restrain it before turning for the worse. 

With pitted eyes and gritted teeth, I wormed my way to the other end of the street. He’d finally take notice of my growing unease— not that it mattered—  “‘Oy, you don’t look so well, is everything alright?” He asks with a cautionary glance; affixing his sword behind him. 

I subconsciously shook my head and exhaled, “It’s nothing, I’m fine— let’s go.” I reassure him, making him relinquish his concern altogether; he can’t be this dense, could he? 

“Okay, but if you’re having problems, I’m here.” He replies, unknowingly adding to my seeping frustrations  

He— he wasn’t condescending to me was he? I might be overthinking things.     

“Tsk…” I mutter while he goes on the initiative, leading us toward oblivion.

He wanted to help and I understood that, but I doubt he’d have the sympathy to relate to me, not when he’d barely break a sweat eliminating those two sentinels on the other hand I almost died just taking one out. He won't sympathize with the severity of my situation and he never will.   

Any form of help he offers furthers my dependence on him and is akin to spitting on my face if I have to take more than I already have.  

I’ll have to prove to myself, to him, and to everyone that I’m capable and free, that I’ll escape this world through my means, even if it means using these God-awful strings.  

?:?? Afternoon, not quite sure when but after passing through a shard of what remained of the mountainside subdivision, the road relinked us back onto the rail tracks. Ending abruptly, collapsed by a rockslide from the persistent precipitation.    

We continued off-road, resuming our path beside the oddly pristine rails. I'd expect it to be cut or have missing parts, yet it remains complete and functional. Sticking out like a sore thumb among the rubble, If not even a car remained on the road, I doubt any trains would’ve stayed also… 

But what’s to believe, what’s not to?  I doubt I’d even care if some train out of nowhere whizzes past us, 

Bump 

I hit his back,  “‘Oy, eyes on the road!” He warns, with a firmer voice this time. “Eh?” I utter, taken aback by his somewhat aggressiveness. 

He rubs his back, realizing that he went too far. He dialed down, slumped his shoulders, and eased with his gestures “You’re starting to concern me a little.” he rationalized, indicating his sorry tone.  

I meet his eyes with a poignant stare “Why so?” I ask with crossed arms. “You seem more distracted than usual.” He remarks with a surprisingly shaky tone— lacking his typical firmness— 

“Huh?” I utter with widened eyes, what’s that supposed to mean? 

“Just forget it.” he exhales, returning to the present threat ahead. “Y’know the drill, stay there I got this.” He mutters tenuously while he grips his sword, he seems to face down a lone sentinel standing between the trees. 

All encounters we’d face had pairs, why the randomness now? It wasn’t something to overlook,  

As always, Firewall led the charge without thought while I was left pondering about the second sentinel’s whereabouts, if it even existed at all, it could just be my head playing tricks with me for all I know. 

But, as my suspect was dying down, I heard a sign, crackling leaves behind the initial forest brush, sending shivers up my skin. 

While he continued his assault, I decided to peek and behold my suspicions right— for the first time— I glimpse the mech striding along in the background— their frame thankfully large enough to see clearly, though not close enough to be felt.  

“That sentinel’s getting away,” I mutter to myself grasping the bush, I momentarily look at him, doubt lingering in my mind. 

This was my opportunity, I swallowed my remaining unease, I’d be able to prove myself if I took it out on my own.  

“Screw it,” I mutter under my breath, before tackling past the bush to chase after it, I’d perhaps doubted myself too much, and maybe it’s not as grueling as I dread it’ll be, it’s only a singular sentinel and I’ve managed to take out one before, what’s going to be different this time around? 

“MALWARE PROTOCOL: (TIER 1) CAST STRINGS” 

I activate my strings, laying them on the forest floor to backtrack the rails if needed. I wasn’t about to lose myself twice now.

Pouring all my strength and focus, I only had one goal, to reach that sole sentinel. This was the only chance to redeem myself, reinforce my independence, and have my hands, not someone else's achieve my goals.    

I’ll prove to him, I’ll show him that I could fight too, that we’re both pulling our weights in this agreement, and that I refuse anything less.

Past the stalks, branches, and dead twigs, exuding the earthly scent while my target drew close, my fingers itched, and my feet started to wear from my sprint but I remained firm and steady like I’d be able to run for miles on end and not collapse. Add on the fact that I’ve remained satiated and without thirst continued to extend this helpful yet curious mystery. 

Soon I was enveloped by the surge of light separating the brush from beyond, after I broke through, I stepped inside a forest clearing. 

Everywhere I saw, were only the canopies of trees, devoid of even the most rudimentary of buildings. I gulped my pride knowing that I’d likely lost myself into the woods by plunging this deep.

But, do I have the choice to turn back now? Do I dare return, forfeit my opportunity now…?  

After having had its distraction taken care of, the sentinel faces me with its inquisitive yellow beams, which snapped red as It glimpsed my skin. 

No— I’ve made up my mind— It was set in stone, once I make that break for it, I’ll prove myself and return to Firewall as an equal, not the burden that I’m being currently.     

But, no matter how I reassured myself, my knees quivered and trembled, and every step pumped my heart with adrenaline, as they closed the distance. 

Once again, on the periphery of life and death, I stand.  this time, of my own accord. 

Clutching my strings with fists, with the intent of emerging a victor, I held my arms far and wide, dangling my strings to the floor, I furrow my brows— eyes pointing daggers and exhaled through pursed lips,

If I stay focused on the present I won’t lose.