Broken. (SAO fanfiction)

Chapter one

A sharp pain rushed through my body, shocking me as I saw the game screen reading: Game Over. I could almost feel my body in the real world start to get exhausted and pained. What was going to happen to me? Was my time up? Was this the end? Akihiko Kayaba's blurred figure loomed over the screen, holding Asuna back as she attempted to rush over to me. Before my vision finally was darkened, I saw him arming himself with his handcrafted sword, his armor shimmering, as he attacked her.

My eyes quickly flew open as I jolted upwards, awakening to a clear white room surrounding me. Wait...was I dead? I flipped my hands over and over to see if I could move at command. I looked down, I had my typical SAO armor on. So...I'm not in the real world... I thought to myself. I got up and slowly speculated the area around me. There was nothing except for a small gleaming gemstone that floated in the middle of the room. I curiously moved towards it, my shoes making a loud Pat...Pat that echoed throughout the room. As I approached the floating item I opened my inventory to see if I could obtain it. The stone's green light grew slowly up me as I went closer to it and picked it up in my two hands.

A sound rang in my ears of screams, the crying of people, the sounds that made my heart pound and made me howl myself. I looked down at my hands, which were fading away so I could see the floor underneath me.
"What's going on??" I screamed, as if someone could hear me. I glanced back down at myself. Everything from my waist below was gone. Maybe I was going to die? I closed my eyes and hoped for a sign or an escape, But, in a moment I was gone. I could see a rush of colors as I felt a cold chill run down my spine. What was happening to me? Where was I going? In that moment all I wished was that I wasn't going to be alone. I shut my eyes as everything passed by and my heart thumped so hard I thought it may beat out of my chest.

Before I could think anything else, I felt calmed finally. Nothing seemed to move. I cautiously opened my eyes to the sight I never thought I would see again. I saw a plaza, much like the one in the Town Of Beginnings. The ground was paved with grey stones that were shone on by the illusion of sunlight. The sky was a baby blue color and I glanced around to see taverns, houses, and people rushing around as if they were just going about their day normally. Suddenly, dozens of eyes were glued onto me, some people gasped, others covered their mouths. I looked around me, confused, and I looked around at myself, just to make sure I didn't look like a monster or anything. I guess my expression got weirder as my mind was jumbled as some random guy in novice armor said,
"Don't worry, I'm confused too, I only died three days ago!" He grinned a little as my eyes wandered to the top of his head where a number roamed, floating like the screen that pops up to show your level. It read the number 57. I reluctantly pointed to it and asked slowly
"I-Is that your level?" I stuttered, amazed.
"Psssshhh!! No no!" The man laughed "My level is only 10. 57's the number of days I have left..." he then glanced at my confused face. I stepped forward of a pedestal I seemed to have spawned on.
"You could use a bit of an explanation, then huh?" He smiled. I nodded slowly at the man who was so eager to assist me.
"Call me Garin." He said, outstretching his hand.
"K-Kirito..." I stammered. Garin nodded.
"I've heard of ya." He smiled "Wow, hard to believe you were defeated... I-I mean..."
"It's okay..." I sighed "Anyways...go on."
"Well, basically, if ya die...you're sent here..." Garin said ponderously, trying to think of the words to use. "And... uh... that number is how many days you can stay here... so since you just spawned you have..." he pointed up above my head. I rolled my eyes up to see the shining number above my head that read: 60.
"Wait...so... what happens when the number runs out...?" I asked.
"Ya die." Garin said flatly. "your body just shuts down, mate." My eyes widened and I gulped.
"I'm relatively new here as well, so the most I know is just the basics." Garin sighed. "Oh... yeah... I forgot to tell you... um, you can live, but it's hard to. You have to take the number one virus out." I cocked my head questioningly. Garin tried to draw out his explanation.
"Only one person has to do it for everyone else to live, but again, you've only got 60 days to do it." Garin said. "We've got a few people that've tried, and failed, and their numbers are probably at a nine or so now..." I looked down, my mind scrambling and trying to get ahold of what I needed to do to get out of here. I would do it. It's the only way, I told myself. I have to.
"Where is it?" I asked sincerely, looking straight into Garin's eyes.