[30 days until the gate opens!]
"Shit, I forgot about that!" She rubbed her hands over her arms, fighting the biting cold.
She remembered that this was an apocalypse novel, and her beloved Donovan was there, experiencing the wonders of life before he was chosen.
Well, I guess that wasn’t happening this time.
[Warning: Host lacks legal identity.]
[Risk of Detainment: 99%]
[If detained, host will miss the survival window.]
’Well, duh! I am in a novel; where do I get an identity from? Not like you guys transported me into a new body.’
It was her, Sunny Game in the flesh.
[Beginner Mission: Acquire 5,000 Koria Dollars in 2 hours.]
[Reward: A forged legal ID and clean background.]
[Penalty: Arrest and subsequent death by apocalypse.]
She shivered. ’How terrifying.’
And there the counter began. The system message disappeared, leaving Sunny to her own thoughts.
She had to think fast, or she was going to lose the chance to meet Donovan again without even helping him.
It would be more terrifying if she was so close to him yet she couldn’t do anything.
She stepped out of the alley and blinked hard. Just a second ago she was in her bedroom listening to a midnight thunderstorm, but here, the afternoon sun blazed overhead. Crossing dimensions meant crossing time zones.
When her eyes cleared properly from the sun, she was awed.
This was Koria. The southern part of Koria at least.
Everything about this world was like an alternate universe to Earth outside the book.
Every city, culture and mannerism.
She inhaled sharply, and a soft smile bloomed on her face. Even the smell of the place was like South Korea.
That sharp, burning smell of asphalt and people.
Nobody cared about her. Their eyes were just glued to their phones and their final destination.
The system popped up again, this time flaring as if trying to make a point.
"Okay, okay, I will go find money!" She grumbled under her breath as she looked left and right down the road before crossing.
If she remembered correctly, this was the exact same street it was meant to happen.
The catalyst that began the book.
There was another alley in front of her, and if she was not mistaken, a scream would echo in 5 seconds.
4...
"Helppppp!!! Someone help me!!!!"
Right on point! 5!
A wicked smirk curled at the corner of her lips as she dipped behind a wall leading to another alley, hiding there and waiting.
Sunny’s heart raced as the voice grew louder, and the thumping of feet on the floor resounded with her heartbeat.
Could she do it?
’NO! This is all for Donovan!’
’Think about Donovan, Sunny.’
She released a breath, just as the voice was right beside her ears.
"Someone save..."
Sunny shot her hand out and pulled him to her side. Without any hesitation, she pushed him into a trash bin.
"If you want to be saved, don’t make a single noise," she told him, and sighed heavily when he obliged.
’I am sorry, stranger, but I have to save you for your money.’
Five burly men appeared at the entrance of the alleyway, panting and looking forward as if they were taking a short rest.
Then they turned their gaze to her.
Shocked to find such a beautiful girl in such a secluded alleyway, she tossed them a sleazy smile while rolling a strand of her hair seductively.
One hand leaned against the wall, while the other one rested on her waist.
"Catching a mouse, big boys? Why so out of breath?" She enquired, cocking her brows at them.
The burly men gave each other looks, their ugly lips twisting into a sinister smile.
"Yes, we’re hunting a very slimy mouse. Seen it anywhere?" The leader asked. Sunny gave him a sweet smile. The male flushed immediately, twisting his body in a sort of way that made her gag internally.
’This acting doesn’t suit you one bit, Sunny.’
She quickly glanced to another entrance of an alleyway. "That way, that mouse must be extremely hard to catch to get you fine-looking men so breathless."
They all laughed.
"Don’t worry, pretty lady, when we finally catch him, we will be sure to break his legs." Another one boasted, a loud, boisterous laugh leaving his lips.
Fear rushed down her spine, and she gulped.
’Don’t get scared now, Sunny.’
"We must get going now, pretty. Do you want some of my men to accompany you home?" Her heart raced at the leader’s intervention.
She grinned. "And ruin your hunt? No way! You guys run along; my home is not too far from here."
’Lies. I don’t even have a home.’
The leader took one step forward, and Sunny took a step backwards. It almost seemed like he was going to corner her to the wall, but then he stopped.
He leaned in.
Sunny readied her knees. She was ready to knee him in the crotch if he tried anything silly.
But to her relief, he just leaned his head forward.
"I would like to sit around and chat with you, pretty. But we will meet again very soon."
’I hope not!’
She gulped again, flashing him a flirty smile. She picked up on the flush on his ears before he leaned back, straightened himself and ran after the false information.
The other men waved her goodbye, and she waved them back in a friendly way.
Damnit, there was no time anymore.
She chased after them, and as soon as she couldn’t pick up the sound of their shoes anymore, she quickly went to the trash bin and opened it.
The man she just saved sprang up for fresh air.
"Oh my God, I almost died." He gasped for air, coughing and dry heaving as if he wanted to throw up.
Sunny stood there pacing about and looking at where those goons had disappeared before she grabbed the strange man by his suit collar and ran forward.
"There is no time to feel disgust; we have to run."
"Wait..."
Without looking back, Sunny ran with the man’s wrist in her hand. Soon they spiralled down a stairwell, bursting into a crowded train station.
Sunny allowed herself to breathe, while people around took a step back because of the strange man’s smell.
When she could finally catch her breath, she checked the stranger whom she had just saved.
"Hey..."
There was no one there. Her heart raced. Her money bag! But when she looked down, she was surprised to see him sitting on the dirty floor, gasping for breath.
He looked at her in surprise and curiosity. "Where did you learn to run like that?"
She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "None of your business, get up!"
He groaned and extended his hand for her.
"Ya!" She gasped, stupefied at his audacity to ask for her hand. "Are you kidding me right now?"
"I can’t feel my legs anymore..." he strained out. Twisting her face only for a split second, she grabbed his hand and tried with all her might to get him up.
She muttered silently, "How can a rich kid like you sit on the floor?"
"I heard you..."
She flashed him a sweet smile. "Oh my God, look, I saved you, isn’t it time I collect my reward?"
She extended her hand, expecting he would hand her fat cash, but he accepted her hand, shaking it.
Her smile immediately fell.
She slapped it away.
"Thank you, my Angel, for saving my life," he swooned, his voice going soft.
Sunny tossed him a disgusted look.
The rich kid used to have a fine appearance. Pepper-blonde hair, frizzled, blue eyes, and what was he? 6 feet tall?
But now, his hair was slimy and wet, and he had stains on his suit from the dumpster.
If she could remember, this was the catalyst needed for the start of the book. The man that Donovan saved in the hospital, who lost both of his legs to those goons.
Now she was the one saving him.
She physically recoiled, her face twisting in disgust.
’Shit!’
She held out her hand again. "This Angel requires a sum of five grand for her Angelic intervention. Money in hand right now."
"Five GRAND?!! That’s daylight robbery."
She tossed him a dirty eye, her lips pulling to form a thin line.
"I can go back and grab those thugs if you want," she threatened, and he immediately dug his hands into his breast pocket.
A frown was on his face, but once his hand felt something, his face lit up.
He pulled out a fat stash of cash and slapped it on Sunny’s outstretched hand.
"There you go, 10 grand, because you are pretty." He grinned happily and she recoiled from his comments.
Men.
She groaned internally.
Only her Donovan was deserving of her and her beauty.
She counted the cash, and it was exactly 10 grand. Her smile turned wilder.
Without even paying attention to the strange man, she started walking away from him, happily counting her cash.
"HEYYYYY!" The strange man shouted behind her.
But she was too engrossed in her bundle of cash to care. When she reached the bathroom, the system popped up in front of her.
[Mission Accomplished.]
[Rewards have been granted.]