Atlas unlocked his door and moments later, Rei and Mira arrived, slipped in, and closed it behind them.
Rei dropped his backpack. "Okay. Talk."
Atlas stayed by the desk, hands tight. "I'm still figuring out if my head's stable or broken."
Mira kept her voice low. "You're shaking."
"I know." He replied.
"Alright, let's try and calm your nerves," Rei suggested.
"Maybe a little background noise from the TV might help."
Rei flicked on the TV. News filled the screen—anchors, street clips, phone footage.
Anchor: "A mysterious app called 'World Survival' appeared on devices this week. Users report task lists, points, and a leveling system. Universities and workplaces confirm productivity surges."
"Hospitals report sprains and minor injuries tied to physical challenges. Police departments are urging caution and warning against vigilantism. No official link to violent crimes has been established."
Rei muted the volume. "So…it really is everywhere."
Mira sat on the bed. "Tell us what happened. We want to hear every detail."
Atlas stared past them for a second, then forced the words out. "I— I was walking back. Scrolling thru the app, trying to make more sense of it. Then…I- I stepped in a puddle. It was blood. I looked up and… and… a body was in the alley. A guy stood over him with a knife. He saw me. The app… projected a screen in front of me. 'First Major Quest: Kill or Be Killed.' It asked if I wanted to equip a staff."
Rei blinked. "Projected? Like… out in the air?"
Atlas nodded. "I hit yes. Then the staff appeared. Real. Heavy. Then a screen appeared by the murder, then, he came at me, and the app fed me prompts—block, counter, finish. I blocked. I hit him. He went down. And…then it said… 'Mission Complete.' And I leveled up."
Silence pressed in.
Rei rubbed his forehead. "Atlas… are you sure you didn't get too deep into the text RPG idea? Stress can mess with perception."
"I really wish that was the case," Atlas said with a tremble in his voice. "Then it gave me a stat points, a skill, a timer and…and so many notifications. Then I saw a person— watching at the end of the alley. I called out, then…they were gone."
Mira moved to him, hand on his arm. "I think it could be some sort psychosis, stress, upcoming midterms, maybe we should take a break."
They were struggling to really grasp that Atlas, the friend who couldn't harm a fly, murdering someone. They felt for him but it just wasn't adding up.
"Guys listen to me!" Atlas said in frustration. He then let out a low sigh, "If I'm going to convince you it's real, I need to show you something."
Rei folded his arms. "Well this should be interesting."
Atlas took a breath and focused.
A soft blue panel unfolded above the phone, bathing the room in cool light.
Rei and Mira eyes widen.
Atlas: "Inventory."
Three slots appeared: water bottle, med kit icon grayed out, and—collapsible staff.
Mira's muttered. "You'r— you're kidding…"
Atlas tapped the staff.
A baton-length cylinder flickered into his hand with a solid click. He extended it. The metal locked. The weight settled into his palm.
Rei stepped back. "How… How did you figure that out?!"
Atlas managed a thin smile. "My nerd brain…panic… and… stress."
Rei reached out, then stopped short. "Can I…?"
Atlas handed it over. Rei's hand dipped from the weight. "Damn…" He whispered, tested the grip, and flinched when it retracted and re-extended with a push.
Mira stared at the projection. "So it wasn't in your head."
Atlas took the staff back and stowed it. The panel dimmed and folded away.
Mira exhaled. "Okay. We sleep. We'll talk more the morning and decide what to do."
Rei nodded. "Agreed. We got A LOT to cover."
They turned off the TV. The room fell quiet except for their breathing and the soft buzz of the mini-fridge.
7:47am
Morning came, the sunlight beamed through the blinds illuminating the room and waking Atlas, who barely got any sleep after last night.
His eyes were open but they were low,
"I— I really killed someone…" the weight of what had happened did not leave his mind.
He forced himself up out of bed, his deep brown hair a mess, plaid pajamas pants, and bare chested. Atlas is not in the worse shape but his physique is starting to show ever so slightly due to the tasks his been doing and possibly his recent level, that thought put him in bitter sweet mood.
He made his way to the living room where Mira was awake sitting at the table sipping tea she had made herself. She seemed to be in deep thought then her attention shifted once she saw Atlas come in.
She turned her to greet him, "Morning…" she said with a small grin. He could tell she was worried, he couldn't blame her, who wouldn't be after finding out one of your best friends was prompted by a game to kill someone in self defense.
It was definitely a strange situation for all of them.
"Morning…" he repeated.
Rei was still asleep still, it was pretty early but with so much on both of their minds it makes sense they'd be awake before him.
Mira spoke again, "Hey…" she hesitated,
"You're not in this alone, what happened last night, you're probably thinking so much, just know…I'm here for you and Rei, and we'll be with you all way with this."
"Thanks." He replied with a half smile.
He didn't know what else to say, the game and the killing still lingering in his thoughts. This— 'GAME—' is something beyond what they had originally thought it would be. Atlas didn't realize it but his expression was becoming gloomy.
Mira took notice she set her cup down, got up walked over and hugged Atlas, snapping him out of his gloomy trance. He was taken aback and before he could say anything, she spoke soft and sweetly.
"It'll be okay," she said tightening her hold around him then look up at him. "You're not carrying this alone, I won't let you…"
She was so sincere, her eyes began to water a bit. Of course this would weigh in on her too.
Once he saw her face, the tears overtaking her eyes he told himself, he can't let this anchor him or them. They need to figure out more about the game, so they don't have to face issues like this again.
After calming himself he gave into to her embrace, "I'm sorry for making you worry, Mira. I'm okay now, really, thank you."
Before they could notice, Rei made his presence known.
"Oh, if you two need a moment or two, I can step out for a bit." He said teasing them.
Mira laughed and blushed as she loosened her hold around Atlas.
Atlas, threw a glare at Rei, who just makes a sly expression.
"Alright, let's get down to business." Atlas said with a shred of confidence.
They all sat down on the floor and started going over the game.
Rei spoke first, "Alright, so, you came across a murder and the game gave you a quest to kill the murderer. The question is why? If tasks and quests are tailored to us, why would make you kill someone rather than just report the murder and be on your way?"
"I don't know…" Atlas chimed in. "I definitely would've preferred that option rather than getting into a brawl with a killer…I hate confrontation..."
Mira perked up with a thought, "Maybe that's it!"
Atlas and Rei eyebrows raise in curiosity.
"The game is tailored to us personally, right? So, it would make sense that it knows what makes us the most uncomfortable too. "
"Which is why it gave you that quest and why you got a level up and so many rewards. You faced something you hated and was rewarded greatly for it."
Silence fell upon them for a moment.
"Perceptive." Rei said impressed.
"But to make me kill someone as my first quest?! It could've, I don't know give something more in my grade point average!"
"Aren't you currently in the top percentile?"
"NOT THE POINT REI!" Atlas responded.
Mira once again, chimed in.
"That's the real question isn't…why was it so it extreme? Makes no sense…"
Mira began doing some research on her phone seeing if anyone has been posting anything about the game similar to what they've just experienced or something close.
Rei finally had some input.
"Well…if it's gonna have us go to maniacal measures like that I think we should just delete the damn game."
"…Yeah," Atlas agreed. "I literally got blood on my hands because of this and even if it was self defense, I already know I'm going to need years of therapy after this."
"So it's settled," Rei said while rising to his feet. "We get rid of the game, get you a therapist and go back to our day to day lives."
"Here, here." Atlas jeered.
"Oh god…uh, guys…" Mira interrupted with fear engulfed in her throat.
"You need to see this…"