"Robert! I'm bored, the games here are too easy," Naoa said, tossing a prize he had won into the trash.
Robert, looked at him with a frown. "What are you on about? And did you throw that damn toy away, you're not a kid!"
They walked away from the games, moving closer to the restaurant where Lin and Mimi were eating. Robert leaned against a railing, his eyes fixed on Lin. "I hate watching this dude. Let's just kill him and tell Bras a demon got to him."
Naoa rubbed his chin, a dark smile forming on his lips. "That's not a bad idea."
Robert smiled back. "Let's do this."
"Wait," Naoa said, his smile vanishing. "There's one problem, moron. Traces of your life force would be left behind. The Order would know it was us."
Robert stopped dead, his face blank as if his brain had just fried. "Oh yeah... I forgot about that." He turned to Naoa. "Why don't you use your ability?"
Naoa shook his head. "No. You do it. Yours is best suited for assassination."
Robert sighed. A flame of energy began to emit from his body. Slowly, a spirit that looked like a bird appeared, hovering over his shoulder. Robert stared through the restaurant window, focusing all his power on Lin, trying to sense his life force.
Suddenly, Robert grunted. "That's odd... he doesn't have a life force."
Naoa stared at him, looking confused. "What?"
"Naoa, you know how my ability works, right?" Robert asked, his voice low.
"Yeah. Your Shin attaches to the life force of people," Naoa replied.
"Then you know what this means," Robert said, his eyes narrowing as he watched Lin. "That must be why Bras was so interested. He's not alive... "
Inside the restaurant, Lin and Mimi stood up to leave. Naoa pointed at them. "They're leaving, Robert."
"I can't track him," Robert muttered, "so I'll track her." He flicked his hand, and a small spark of his Shin attached itself to Mimi as she walked out the door.
A few days earlier, a man was being shown a small, cozy apartment.
"So, do you like the apartment, sir?" the lawyer asked, holding a clipboard.
"I love it," the man said, looking around the bright living room. "But why is it so cheap?"
The lawyer shrugged. "Well, the past tenants usually leave in a day. They say it's haunted, but we don't know how true that is."
The man laughed. "Well, it's within my budget, so I'll take it."
"Good! Glad you like it," the lawyer said, a strange glint in his eye.
The man moved in the next day. He spent hours setting up his furniture just the way he liked it. He cooked a nice meal and ate in peace. When it was time for bed, he walked to the light switch and flipped it off.
The light came back on.
He frowned and flipped it off again. It snapped back on. He went to turn it off a third time, his heart starting to race. He turned to head for the bed in the dim light, but his foot hit something. He tripped, falling hard.
Suddenly, something gripped his ankles. He was being pulled under the bed. He screamed and clawed at the floor, but the strength pulling him was too much. "Help! Someone help!"
A dead silence fell over the room. The apartment door stood wide open, swinging slowly in the wind.
In the white-lit simulation, Lin was in a desperate fight. The System screen was flashing red warnings:
[DECAPITATED ARM]
[MASSIVE BLOOD LOSS]
Lin ignored the pain. He charged at the demon, ducking just in time to dodge a massive slash. I can see it! he thought, his heart pounding. I can see its attacks!
He saw an opening and lunged, thrusting his staff deep into the demon's chest. I've won! But the demon didn't fall. Instead, it grew a third arm from its side and blocked the staff with ease. Lin froze, paralyzed by shock.
[EXHAUSTION LEVELS: HIGH]
[ENDING SIMULATION]
Lin was instantly transported back to the floor of his room. He gasped, clutching the spot where his arm had been cut off. He looked down, it was back. His skin was whole, but the thought of the pain made him shiver.
His phone began to ring. He checked the screen: 10 Missed Calls from Mimi.
He called her back immediately. "Where were you, Lin?! I called so many times!" she shouted, sounding furious.
"I... I was in the shower," Lin lied, wiping sweat from his face.
"Forget it," she said, her voice calming down. "I found an apartment! It was really cheap and I'll be moving in tomorrow. Do you want to come over?"
Lin could hear the rustle of clothes over the phone. Mimi was putting on her bra, getting ready for the day. "No problem, I'll be there," Lin said.
"Great! I'm going to go meet the lawyer now. See you tomorrow!"
Mimi drove to the apartment complex, feeling excited about her new start. As she pulled up, the lawyer was already there, waiting by the entrance.
"Good afternoon, ma'am," he said, a cold, sharp smile on his face. "Let's get the paperwork done."