Leo/Luna

Chapter 1: The Download

The faint hum of Leo's computer filled the room as he leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. The dim glow of his monitor was the only light in his small bedroom, casting soft shadows on the posters of video game characters and streamers that adorned the walls. Tonight's stream had been a success—donations had poured in, chat engagement was high, and Luna, his online persona, had never felt more alive. His viewership had peaked at over 400 that night.

Leo stared at his computer screen, where a paused frame of Luna smiled back at him. She was everything he so desperately wanted to be: fun, witty, and captivating. As Luna, Leo could be the center of attention without fear or hesitation for hundreds of strangers, and it felt okay. He could make them laugh, make them hang out, open up, anything, really.

In the harsh light of day, Leo's reality felt suffocatingly small and colorless. At school, he was just another face in the crowd—unremarkable and often overlooked. The confidence and charm he wielded as Luna vanished, leaving him to navigate the halls with downcast eyes and a perpetual sense of invisibility. Where Luna sparked lively conversations and infectious laughter, Leo stumbled through awkward exchanges and solitary lunches.

Leo glanced at the clock: 1:45 AM. "I should get some sleep," he muttered to himself, yet his fingers danced across the keyboard, checking messages and donations. One message stood out, catching his eye with its unusual phrasing:

"Hey Luna! Amazing stream tonight. I've got something special that can make your setup even better. Click here to download. Trust me, it's worth it. 😉"

Leo hesitated for a moment, his cursor hovering over the link. His excitement over the stream's success and the potential for even better content pushed caution aside. "Why not?" he thought. "A new upgrade could be cool." He clicked the link, which led to a download page with a single, shiny button that read "Enhance Your Experience."

He pressed it, and the download began almost instantly. The file was small, finishing in a matter of seconds. Leo opened the folder and double-clicked on the executable file. The installation window popped up, guiding him through a series of standard prompts—"Accept Terms," "Choose Installation Location," "Install." He clicked through them quickly, eager to see what new features it might add to his streaming setup.

As the progress bar reached 100%, the screen flickered and went black. Leo frowned, tapping the keyboard and moving the mouse, but the screen remained dark. His reflection stared back at him, distorted and ghostly against the monitor's glossy surface.

"What the hell..." he whispered, feeling a twinge of anxiety. Just as he reached for the power button to restart the computer, the screen flared back to life. An image of Luna appeared—her face, the avatar's face, but it seemed almost... alive. Her eyes glinted with a strange, knowing light, and her lips moved as if whispering something he couldn't quite hear.

Lines of code scrolled rapidly across the screen, filling it with symbols and characters Leo couldn't comprehend. Panic surged in his chest. He frantically tried to close the window, but the cursor was unresponsive. The strange characters continued to flow, interspersed with brief flashes of Luna's serene smile.

"What's happening?" Leo's voice trembled. His heart raced as he watched the screen, helpless to stop whatever was occurring. The code finally halted, and the screen went black again, then rebooted into his desktop as if nothing had happened.

He stared at the screen, bewildered. Everything seemed normal now. He checked his streaming software—no updates, no new features, nothing out of the ordinary. "Maybe it was just some weird glitch," he rationalized, though a nagging sense of unease lingered.

Leo got up from his chair, stretching his arms and rubbing his eyes. As he walked past the mirror on his way to bed, he paused, glancing at his reflection. Something felt different, but it was still him. He convinced himself it was just the late hour and the stress of the stream playing tricks on him.

Shaking his head, he pulled off his headset and crawled into bed, pulling the covers up tight. The room was quiet, save for the soft whirr of the computer's fan. He closed his eyes, willing himself to forget the strange occurrence. Tomorrow would be another day, and he would need his energy.

In the darkness, the monitor emitted a soft glow. Luna's face appeared one last time, her eyes twinkling with a secret knowledge, before fading into the night.

~~~~~~~

Leo !

don't forget to leave a vote if you're enjoying ! cya on the next chapter <3 -lily