A Timer
He keeps his silence, not wanting another slap.
Her eyes slowly observing him from head to toes.
"Though I don't mind the view, I have to say goodbye to it," she thought, disappointed.
"Barging in a lady's room being shirtless, doesn't seem much noble to me, Luke."
He glances at himself before making a defense, "Since when did you care?"
"Because you seem to be forgetting your place," she points out.
"That doesn't answer my question," running his hand through his hair, sliding it back, "It's nothing you're not used to. Why point it out?"
Sici loses her words, "First of all, that lucky bitch enjoyed this view daily?!"
She sighs out loud, unable to argue back, "Get out of my room. You barged in here rudely first."
"So, get the fuck out while I'm still trying to be rational, Luke."
"Tch!" He didn't try to refute even though usually he would.
"Why is she behaving so differently than usual?" He thought as he obeyed her regardless of putting up a rude act around her.
As soon as he left the room, Sici lost all her strength in her body, dropping onto the floor.
"Was I given a buff just now??" She starts asking the important questions, feeling her energy drain away.
"And ain't no way that managed to drive him out. Wow, how?"
[ A Buff Was Automatically Used ]
[ 15 Points Deducted For Buff ]
[ Points Remaining : -15 ]
Her momentary happiness fades away seeing the negative number, "What in the world!"
"Just why?? I didn't do it!"
She starts to furiously tap the screen, looking for the settings option.
When playing a new game, the first rule is always to make sure to check the settings and fix few functions depending on your preference. She forgot her own first rule and now had to suffer for it.
She turned off the option for automatic use of points. She didn't even know how to obtain those points yet and what it's value was.
It also didn't mean that she was going to be ignorant about it.
"Fucker..." She muttered as she began to crawl all the way to the bed.
"Wait, are there any consequences for negative points?"
[ Yes ]
She waits for awhile but the system doesn't provide more information on its own.
"What are the consequences?" She sighes slamming her head against the mattress.
[ The Host Has Locked The Information ]
[ No Information Can Be Provided ]
"The fuck why!" After the struggle, she manages to get herself onto the bed.
"This body sucks too... I don't remember her being so weak!"
"My patience is really being tested around here in the name of god knows what!"
"Can I even see any stats?"
A character profile is opened upon her request.
[ Host : Melina Noirey (Female) ]
[ User : Sici Geness (Female) ]
[ Hair : Wine Red, Wavy, Long ]
[ Eyes : Emerald Green ]
[ Height : 5'7 ]
[ Weight : 53kg (danger level) ]
[ Age : 24y ]
[ Body Stats : Weak due to being poisoned. Full recovery can be expected in 2 days ]
[ Points : -15 ]
[ Illusion : Locked ]
[ Biography : Locked ]
"One question answered at least and no wonder the body's so freaking weak! I doubt it's just the poison's effect!"
"I need to gain weight first," she sighs out loud.
A knock at the door deverts her attention. "Enter," Sici said, clearing her voice.
A maid came in, curtsying. "Good afternoon, m'lady. Shall I bring your lunch here?"
Sici nodded, silently thinking maybe she still had some luck left in her. Then again it was strange that this maid treated her differently than others, as if Melina's near death thing never happened.
Within minutes, the maid served her the meal. It contained few vegetables and an egg for protein.
Sici wanted to complain but held back since she knew what side effects the body would have if she suddenly decided to change the portion and all.
As she ate, Sici thought about her mission. Find Melina's killer. But where should she start? And who could she trust?
Though she already had few clues to work with, it still was as good as knowing nothing.
After the maid left with the empty plates, she noticed a new notification waiting for her.
[ You Have A Message From The Host ]
"Open," she thought and it worked making her surprised. She wasn't going to bother tapping on it again. If only the notifications would ring in her head.
[ Host : Take this seriously, will you? ]
"What gave you the idea that I am not?" She didn't feel like staring at the screen anymore.
She layed down and covered her head with the blanket, "What does she expect me to do with this weak body right now?"
"Do what you're told", Melina's voice rings in Sici's head, startling her.
She looks around to see no one near her, "Great, she's in my head now."
They do say, be careful what you wish for.
"Fine," Melina said.
Instantly the system screen pops out again, making Sici's heart sink in.
[ Time Remaining : 6 days, 16 hours, 25 minutes, 30 seconds ]
"What's with this timer?"
"Every week, you have to get a clue related to the poisoning. If you fail to do, let's say you won't like what happens then," Melina said in her usual nonchalant tone.
"Do you even think of me as a human?"
"Why should I?" She replies Sici instantly.
Sici failed to understand Melina even more now, "You don't huh.. Got it."
"Do what you want," she said as she tried to lay down in a comfortable position again.
Sici starts to feel a headache form in her which gradually increases from bearable to unbearable along with her breathing.
Her breaths fall short, unable to intake a normal amount of oxygen. Heartbeat increases and then it drops as if someone has a tight hold on it, squeezing it, making her almost scream in pain but the voice doesn't come out her mouth.
She tries to breathe through her mouth but fails. The pain in her chest increases.
Her eyes roll back as the pain starts to spread to other parts of her body. She bites down her lips so hard that blood drips out and the abnormal pain vanishes away.
She struggles to breathe for awhile but takes in big amount of oxygen through her mouth anyway.
"Did you like that?" Melina asks, her voice revealing her amusement to her struggles.
Sici just keeps her eyes shut not bothering to have a conversation with her.
"That's just a little taste. When you fail, you will get to enjoy one worse than this."