Double Gamers (Malereader)

Prologue

From a height that allowed a breathtaking view of the city below, a sixteen-year-old boy sat on the edge of a towering 15-story building. His feet dangled precariously as he took a swig from a glass bottle, contemplating the people beneath him. The people on the streets resembled tiny ants, oblivious to the world above.

In the midst of his thoughts, the boy, whose name remains unknown, decided to bring an end to his solitary moment. With a final chug from the bottle, he cast it away, watching it disappear into the abyss. As he stood up, revealing his modest height of 5'6", he was on the verge of stepping off the edge when a sound reached his ears-a faint crying coming from around a corner.

Curiosity piqued, he peered around the corner, discovering a girl huddled in a fetal position against the wall, her tears flowing silently. Bewildered, he couldn't help but express his confusion aloud.

"Da fuck?" He blurted out.

Startled by the sudden voice, the girl turned her teary eyes toward the boy. She hastily wiped away her tears, attempting to regain composure.

"W-who are you? What are you doing here?" She stammered.

"Well, I was up here, doing, uh, things," he replied, gesturing vaguely. "And I heard you crying."

Embarrassed, the girl averted her gaze, her tears continuing to fall. She murmured, "O-oh, ye-yeah, sorry. I was just about to..."

Her voice trailed off as she glanced at the edge of the building, prompting the boy to follow her gaze.

"Oh, so she was here for the same reason I am," he thought to himself.

Taking a seat beside her, he removed another glass bottle from his coat, opening it and taking a sip before sighing.

"Yeah, I get it. That's why I'm here too," he admitted, staring out at the golden sky as the sun began its descent.

The girl nodded, confirming their shared intent.

"So, what kept you from just going for it?" He asked.

"I... I got scared. I was so close, standing on the edge, and as soon as I looked down in the last second, I chickened out. I felt like a coward," she confessed.

"Hm..." was his only response. He continued to gaze into the horizon, the sounds of traffic below filling the silence.

Curiosity got the better of her, and she ventured, "What about you?"

Turning to look at her, the boy's gaze made her flinch, her anxiety rising.

"I... Honestly, nothing. I'm not gonna say I've ever been the most fearless person, but today when I got up and sat at that edge, there wasn't a hint of fear in me. I don't know why, but it just felt okay, like it was right, I guess," he revealed.

"I wish I could be that brave. Hell, even if I were half as brave, I wouldn't be here right now," she lamented.

"Who knows? Maybe, maybe not," he shrugged, finishing the bottle and tossing it off the building. Another sigh escaped him as he allowed the sounds of the bustling city below to envelop them.

Time passed, an hour and a half of silence until the boy finally broke it.

"Well, judging by the fact that you're still here tells me that you either don't want to go home or don't have anywhere to go. So, which is it?" He inquired.

Trembling, the girl pleaded, "I... I don't want to go back. Please don't make me go back."

With tears welling up in her eyes, she desperately hoped to avoid returning to wherever she came from. The boy's expression softened as he placed a comforting hand on her head, patting her gently. She flinched at his touch, unaccustomed to such comfort.