The Vampire's Mate

Chapter 48

Jordan's POV

I groan and remove the immersion helmet, rubbing my eyes after doing so. Shouldn't have chosen the random character button. The options weren't very versatile and I think it glitched half the time. I swing my legs over the side of my bed and crack my neck, brushing my dark brown hair out of my face. I get up and slip on my house slippers before shuffling across the floor to the kitchen. I rummage through a cupboard, glancing at the clock. Apparently that immersion only took two hours, enough for the next week. That reminds me, I need to go get groceries. I pull a jacket over my large black shirt and worn jeans before slipping on battered gym shoes and holey socks. I grab a rations card for this month and open the creaky door of my small apartment. I breath in the suffocating, smoggy air and clear my throat. I lock the door behind me and walk down the flight of rusty stairs and down the street, keys between my fingers and ration card in my front pocket. Cars zoom past me and I continue to walk to the grocery store with my keys between my fingers. People kill themselves with little flaming pieced of death tucked between their lips as I walk by, not wanting to catch attention and have to use my keys. I walk into the small shop, a chime ringing through the store. My eyes shoot from the cashier to the man who's leaning over the counter and talking to him before I make my way behind a tall row of shelves. I glance at the ration's cards and find myself left with seven things. Bread, butter, dozen eggs, one gallon of milk, one pound flour, two pounds of vegetables, and one pound of fruits. I think about the sugar I have at home and grab a bag of flour labeled a pound, a gallon of milk that expires in two weeks, and the dozen eggs. I walk up to the front counter and the guy that was already there moves over. I place my items onto the counter and hand the cashier the rations card. He takes out his hole puncher and clips the areas for what I've gotten. He hands me the card back and I stuff it into my pocket. I take a bag and shoot the cashier a smile before leaving the semi-warm store into the chilling outside world.

"Hey, what you got there?" a voice that obviously belongs to a man speak. I clutch my keys and continue walking, not sparing a glance at the man who spoke. I feel a hand grab my left forearm roughly and turn me around. I move my hand around to punch him with my hand wielding my keys and I nearly get at his throat when another person's hand shoots out and grabs mine. Ah, shit. This is it, I'm going to lose my life.

"No need to hurt anyone," the new guy speaks, his hood covering his face. "Now get along."

The new man looks at the guy who initially grabbed me and lifts his hood. The first man's eyes morph from a smug look to one of pure terror. What did he see? A physically deformed man? People were uniform in appearance nowadays. Brown or black hair, brown eyes, and the only factor that remained varied was the skin color. There have been myths of hair that was golden and eyes that varied from a blue color- like the sky once was- to a green - like grass use to be not too long ago. The Great Fall had happen over twenty years ago, before I was born. Japan? Gone. United Kingdom? Gone. Only the inner land of Asia, Europe, and the Americas stand. Most virtual reality programs make the main character look attractive and have these rare traits, feeding the desires of others. Man, that vampire one I was in needed some work. I'll have to tell Lilia her program is a bit faulty and unrealistic tomorrow. It'll break her heart, but it's better than letting the game get to the executives and her getting fired. Damn it, Jerry. You're going to be killed and you're thinking about the program you just got out of? The first man releases me and legs it down the street, not looking back.

"Thank you, I'll be going now," I mumble, hoping for the best case scenario. He chuckles lowly, sending an uncomfortable chill down my spine, before letting go of my hand and looking at me expectantly. I still can't see his face due to the shadow the hood casts. Damn it, now I'm really curious. I begin to walk back to my house and ignore the background noise as I approach my apartment. Being five foot six, one hundred and seventy four pounds, and having pure Indian blood flowing through my veins allowed me to automatically get into a computer programming sector of jobs. That and the fact that I had taken courses before schools had been shut down due to low budget. Soon enough, I'm outside my door and I unlock it, still not aware of my surroundings.

"Nice place," the same dark voice from before speaks before I close and lock the door behind me. I jump slightly and begin to turn as a large body shoves past me and into my place. What the fuck?

"Yeah, please leave before I press the panic button," I nervously threaten. Really, Jerry? Haven't you learned from those videos you swiped at the office? I position my hand on top of the red buzzer and press down once the man makes himself comfortable by walking across the floor in his muddy shoes and taking a seat. Nothing. I press again and curse under my breath. The landlord didn't fix it.

"You were saying?" the man speaks with a victorious tone.

"Get out," I demand, still not entering my own house. Oh goodness, the dirt from outside is getting all up in where I sleep and eat.

"I don't think I'll be leaving any time soon. Just come in and close the door before you catch a cold, Indie," he mocks. What did he just call me? Indie? Oh hell no.

"Excuse me, but last time I checked, this is against the law," I hiss out of anger. This guy is really riling me up. Be prepared for my wrath. He lifts his hood and vibrant, icy blue eyes meet mine while black hair falls over his face. I clumsily get into my apartment and shut the door behind me, making sure to lock it. Holy shit, Lilia. Xavier exists.

A/N (please at least read the part that isn't in all caps to clear up any confusion)

HELLO
YES
INSTEAD OF A NEW BOOK I DECIDED TO CONTINUE THIS ONE
WAIT
NO
THAT ISN'T RIGHT

THIS IS THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE SEQUEL, I GUESS?

Let me explain it. So, the entire story of Jordan and Xavier and Jenna and everyone was just sort of a multiplayer virtual reality game that this character, Jerry, is playing with her coworkers in order to test it for a friend before she can hand it to the executives of the computer programming sector, which is split into three subcategories. Virtual reality programming, central security programming, and quarter specialization. Jerry finishes the program, meaning she "woke up", like the others who were playing as the other characters(Jenna, Sora, May, Lucy, etc.). Most of the world is now covered in salt water due to a rise in sea level, resulting in multiple earth quakes and deaths (this probably isn't scientifically possible). People have ration cards since farming is now limited and exporting and importing is difficult to do. People have come together and dominant traits have nearly completely wiped out recessive traits (blue eyes, hazel eyes, green eyes, red hair, blond hair, etc.). (Oreos and Twinkies still exist but are only available to the high up positions, making them desirable to have in virtual reality games)(Everyone in the computer programming sector has a virtual reality helmet, others must purchase their own by saving up their earnings)(earning are only used on unnecessary things, food cannot be bought with earnings, people earn very little per hour, there is no minimum wage).

HEY

IF YOU DIDN'T READ THAT LONG PARAGRAPH, GO BACK AND READ IT IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

ANYWAYS, I'M BACK AND BURSTING WITH IDEAS FOR THIS
IN ADDITION, I WOULD LIKE SOME FEEDBACK FROM MY PRECIOUS OREO CHILDREN ABOUT TVM AND ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS SEQUEL THING.

THE TITLE WON'T BE FLASH, BUT I SHALL POST IT SOON.

I ADMIRE YOU ALL

Byezz

~Anonymous

=)