Five years had passed since Hoku had graduated high school.
He sat in the dark of his room, staring at his computer with weary eyes. His red maple hair had grown down to the base of his neck. He hunched over, sipping on an energy drink, trying his best to fight the grasp of exhaustion to stay up.
His phone buzzed on his desk. He checked it and got consumed by the various news articles.
Well, gaming news.
He read something about studio layoffs. There was also an article a sequel cancellation for the roguelike Skullkeep. 'Shame,' he thought, the dev studio shut down. There was also news about a new programme to empower creatives.
As he scrolled further, he found news about a new Blood Prince animated series adaptation. The image depicted two voice actors giving away merch with a growing line in front of them. 'Not a bad turnout. Hope they do it justice.
One of the voice actors was a tall, ginger man with a thin goatee. The other was a beautiful woman who was happily engaging with fans. She had long, straight black hair and glasses.
Hoku put his phone down and returned to his computer. He held up the front of his growing bangs. "Jeez, I should cut my hair soon." His eyes travelled back to his monitor. "What was I doing again?" Then he flinched in pain grasping the back of his neck as a patch of blood wet his hand.
Hoku hunched back over and returned his gaze to the screen "It'll probably get better. I just have to wait a little longer." He tipped his head up, looking to the air.
"Huh, what exactly am I waiting for?"
[User Hoku]
"Yeah?" He responded.
[I'm Sorry. I've failed you]
"It is what it is, I guess."
Hoku realised that the voice was coming from the screen; the lines of text were being eaten away by black pixels. Hoku sat mesmerised, looking at the screen.
Then an acute awareness overtook the blank expression on Hoku's face.
"System!"
He jumped out of his chair and grabbed his computer. Every missing detail about Hoku's situation hit him. "What's happening to you?" Hoku asked, gawking at the corruption on his screen. He gripped his head; it was like the black corruption was screaming in his head.
He frantically tried to tap on his keyboard, but nothing worked, as the system's text continued to be consumed.
[It is futil-]
Hoku grimaced. Then he stretched back his arm, 'This isn't real, this isn't real, this isn't real.'
BANG! Hoku threw a punch into the screen, making it shatter. He looked into the empty void that filled the inside. He tried to reach his hand in, but neither the text nor the corruption was corporeal.
[Leave -e]
[Once you do, you will return to reality]
Hoku grit his teeth.
[#s-your #nly chance of survival]
"What's the point? They'll just kill me," Hoku fretted.
[It Is...Your Decision To Make]
"I'll have to fight the scavengers..."
Shaking his head, he looked at the door..
He shouted and ran towards the door. It felt like the rest of the room was being sucked towards him as he reached for the handle. He opened the door. His eyes filled with nothingness.
Hoku jolted up. It was pitch black. He felt around his head and ripped off the helmet. Stinging at the base of his neck. Sweating and inhaling. The helmet cracked against the wooden floor.
He felt the warm sensation of blood running down his neck.
He stretched out his hand. His control over his body was slowly becoming more responsive, and his senses became acute. The sight of the surrounding Thick wood of the sled, the odour of the animal carcasses being roasted in the sun in the back, and the sound of the muffled voices of the scavengers. Skin became sensitive to the temperature of the desert.
The sun's light was blinding.
"Hey, did you hear something? One of the scavengers asked.
"Probably just the sand."
"No way, sand doesn't make noise."
"Ssssss."
"That's the sled, not the sand, moron."
While the two scavengers were arguing, a shadow rose behind them, filled with a new determination that burned hotter than the blazing sun.
"Yeah! Yeah, I get it, already. Close your mouth: You're getting spit everywhere." Then he noticed that the scavenger he was talking to was looking past him, which prompted him to turn.
"How in the-"
The other scavengers stopped conversing. "He broke out!" they cried.
Baldervich's eye twitched.
Hoku stood up with a steady stance, face glistening from the sun, holding dustblade firmly in his hand, as the scavengers turned to face him.