3 . 6 . 14

One Extremely Idiotic Excuse of a Man ~ Chapter 23

(Astrid's P.O.V.)

His words echoed in my head, a constant eerie voice telling me that no matter what, I will lose those I care for. Nothing can change that future, that incredibly cruel fate. I can just imagine myself muttering "That's cruelty." I of all people know this place is hell. The thought that even anyone thought of this fantasyland as paradise never dwelled in my mind. This place is unrealistic, fake, a mere game that simply anyone can control, but then, this game lost it. It's gone ballistic, and we have little to no data on any lead that will allow us to pave the way to truth.

I felt dead. I didn't know whether my heartbeat quickened pace and rapidly pounded in my chest or if it slowed to a fatal point nearing death. I couldn't tell. That was precisely how much my very spirit seemed to drift off into another world. My physical body remained wherever I was, yet my thoughts were elsewhere, out of reach, overwhelmed by the complex situation we were in.

All my memories escaped my grasp, making my mind think that a far more superior being than enlightenment lay out there, laughing at our inferiority. For a second, despite my wandering mind, I caught a glimpse of reality, a whisper of someone I knew- no, someone I know. The captivating sound was gladly welcomed into my ears as my mind was suddenly dragged back into our conversation.

"—you mean?" the guy named Magnus asked, panic and shock evident on his features.
"I mean what I meant kid. There's not a single bluff in what I just said." Ashton responded with a serious look.
"That's why..." I murmured softly. Kid- this place is programmed for you to lose everyone you love. Those words...
They struck me, captured me in utter shock as I was suddenly reminded of one thing, a missing piece we never knew.
"There's something," I started quietly, "something we didn't even know we didn't know."
"What? What are you talking about Agent Agent?" Kathrine shushed our current subject, Magnus.
I swear I saw Ashton smugly smile a bit. "You finally figured out, huh? Talk away, Agent Agent."
"We never knew...but what exactly was the game you were making, Agent Poop? Why did you make it? We get you got some brilliant discovery of an A.I. that makes some breakthrough in technology and whatnot, but what exactly was your purpose when you created this game? What did you plan to attain? Fame? Success? Did you want to contribute something to society? Answer up, Agent Poop."

"Well, what if I told you that I was attempting to create some impossible dating sim where all the guys would swoon and squeal, but they'd never succeed, but then...they don't know it's impossible either?" He raised his eyebrows at me playfully, but I maintained my composure and gave him a stern stare that was close enough to the oh so typical death glare.

"I might just believe that based on what you earlier said; however, I find that way too weird and much too like a lie to be truth. Also, the fact you asked me makes me undoubtedly wanna doubt you. Am I even making sense anymore?" I replied as Kathrine snickered.
"Why do you suddenly sound so professional?" Ashton teased.
"What, and you're not busy goofing off and talking about impossible dating sims?"
"Welp, touché."
"So, that's proof enough that it wasn't intended to be some impossible dating sim."
"What makes you think that? If it's not, then what? It has to be something I would program to kill people you love and whatnot. The people who remain unloved are just so damn lucky...and sad at the same time."

~

Nothing. He didn't tell us anything no matter how much we tried to pry him open. The guy called Magnus just stared at us with a what-the-heck-I-thought-these-people-were-chosen-ones-like-people-who-supposedly-were-gonna-save-the-world look on his face (yes, that was a very long adjective, I know). What harm would there be in telling us? It's pointless to be scared if nothing wrong was done.

"If you're project was a breakthrough in technology, what part of it would make you guilty? That is," Kathrine paused.
"If you actually are guilty." I finished off for her. "It's possible that you somehow vowed to shut your mouth..."
"And if that happened, there was nothing said about you digging in to discover what I was creating." Ashton smirked.
"But then, was that really the case and was shutting up the only thing you vowed to do?" Clair wondered aloud.
"Precisely." Kathrine and I said in unison.
"Ahem. Someone tell me again why we're talking about this nonsense?" Magnus interrupted.
"First off, It is most definitely NOT nonsense, and secondly, you started this by the way." Kathrine retorted.
"Just shut it, back to topic." I ordered.
"So...did he swear to keep it secret, is he flooded with guilt and just doesn't wanna tell or is it something else?"
"Detective meeting time! Including you too Agent...uhh...Chunsu!" Kathrine announced.
"Aye-aye Agent K! Agent Agent onto business!" I saluted, and a sudden realization came to me.  "Chunsu huh...kawaii!"