Everlasting System: Changing Stories

There was a chance she could escape prison, a chance to evade the bars... So why feel hesitant taking it? Was living in a motel planted in the most dangerous alley in the city along with it sewer smell better than prison? The motel was located near somewhat a common and typical meet-up for gangs. The alley was disheveled, and looked of danger. Commonly, gang members were the one checking in to the motel too. With a bounty rising to thousands of dollars within seconds, if she wanted to evade prison without choosing the 'chance' given to her, she had to move. But her head was cramped with other thoughts. Thoughts such as "is he telling the truth?"

It was her deceased mother's birthday. Every year, she goes out to drink coffee in the nearest store. Each year, she would reminisce her mother's smile, and her obsession with coffee's. On that certain day, she was offered a last resort, a choice.

So, what was her exit? Play the damn man's games. As crazy as that sounded, the guy did a killer job selling the idea to her. What did she have left? Her sanity. But, pushing sarcasm away, he was sure of what'll happen to her. He had warned her, told her that the arrest warrant would soon be issued and granted... If the gangsters still hadn't caught her for the bounty, the police would be involved, the nation would search for her... Just because she messed with the main leads.

The guy sure was determined to stick fear in her spine, but that wasn't the entire reason he approached her. She knew since his words... His words were her escape if she was to choose to not follow the script.

*"Tell me, love..." He adjusted his tie as he leisurely leaned against the leather seat as he took a sip of his coffee, it's aroma hitting her nose hard. "If you would have the chance to get a second chance in this pathetic mortal life, would you take it?" His question confused her for sometime. Numerous people had beliefs of after death, you will live again. Thinking it was a hypothetical question, she nodded her head.*

*"Play a game with me..." The instant the words flew out of his mouth, her brows furrowed. "Play some of the scripts in this phone---" he threw a black phone all of a sudden, and it was only by luck did she miss it but had it land to her l.a.p. "---and let's play ten rounds... Live the life of the role I give to you after choosing your theme... There will be goals, of course. It wouldn't be fun without it..." There was a sadistic gleam in his eyes. He kept hesitating with his words as if he was only thinking of the game now. Little did she know that he was slow with his words so she wouldn't be overwhelmed. "If you win in the end, I can give you your second chance... Lose, and you will end up in a spot worse than prison."*

And now she was staring at his phone.

At first, she obviously didn't believe him. But as soon as she opened the phone, she saw a bunch of doc.u.ments in the form of scripts. The guy really did over-kill his job. Each one she read, she was met with vivid descriptions, humanoid reactions. It was all so realistic, the story was already playing in her head like a film. The words itself felt as if they held unimaginable power. There was over a thousand of those scripts! Every script had its charm... And they all ended the same way; the villain losing.

The guy who wrote it all was named 'Soren'. He emphasized the sufferings of the second leads, the villains, the cannon fodders who were used as a stepping stone. He showed the temporary happiness, and the permanent ending... He... Expected her to play this? To change it?

Indeed, she had been the second lead... Then the cannon fodder after she was forgotten... And, she tried to be happy in this life, in this reality... But, they keep taking it away. Her smiles only lasted for seconds before darkness took over again. It ruined her, turning her to the villain she was now.

She wasn't ready to be like those other villains. She lost so much, only to have her fate forced to lose.

Looking at the phone again, her hand lashed like a viper to a prey. Her fingers curling around it's figures, just as when she was about to turn it on,a different screen automatically flashed.

-Ready to play game?-

There were two choices. Yes, and No. Her hands shook by her side, before her thumb, by instinct, pressed 'yes'.

Numerous scripts came to the screen. She thought of all the scripts she'd read, but couldn't remember the titles. So, she picked the very first.

-Princess Divorce: Finding Him-

And instead of the cliche flashing lights, her heart squeezed. There were tiny hot prickles, similar to needles, stabbing her organs. Her eyes widened, as she choked.

And darkness swallowed her.