[9:39 AM; Saturday, 29th of April, 2024]
"I'm going to die…"
Biting my nails while sitting in my corner, I muttered the words that echoed in my head. My body felt itchy, and my heart kept racing. It felt like I was going insane, just sitting in that spot for so long.
"We're all going to die…"
Despair clutched my heart, taking it hostage as I drowned in fear. Cold sweat drenched my body, and I could feel the stink that surrounded me.
Even then, I couldn't move from my position.
"A-all… all of us… are dead…"
Ever since I recollected the weird nightmare I just had—the one where I had a similar nightmare and chose to ignore it, yet died such a painful death—my mind felt so discombobulated. A disconnect formed between my thoughts and my body, and I became unable to do anything anymore.
Was this what they called despondency?
The realization that those nightmares I had been getting weren't really nightmares, but simply visions of the future, began to dawn on me. No, that didn't feel exactly like it.
It felt more as if I lived those lives—conscious about everything, yet when I died, it became a dream.
No, a NIGHTMARE!
"Am I dreaming now? Is this… is this just a nightmare?"
In the past, I could check the mirror to conform, but that wasn't working anymore. By all means, I was supposed to be wholly awake—completely in reality. Yet… yet…
'Am I going crazy? I'm crazy, right?'
*****
[10:03 AM]
'My head… it hurts. The pain is getting more intense.'
I looked at the clock in front of me, still maintaining my position. The time told me something that told me not to leave my position.
'Almost time…' I whispered.
I didn't know exactly when the world ended, but I was sure that it wasn't noon yet when I died in both times. It was probably a bit past 11 AM.
'D-does that mean I can quickly go to the pharmacy to get my meds?' If I hurried, I could relieve this pain that constantly kept me miserable.
"B-but…" Remembering the horrific way I died in the pharmacy, my eyes instantly turned bloodshot and I found myself quivering once more.
'N-no. I can't go. Can't go out. Not now…'
Shivering and trembling, I cried internally, feeling the pain in my head swell, threatening to rip my brain apart.
"W-wait… I can order the drugs, can't I? Haha… why didn't I think of that!"
Yes. If I did that, then I didn't need to go outside, right? Yes… that was exactly right. Then…
I spotted my laptop across the room, noticing a bright glimmer of hope emanate from it. It was literally my path to salvation.
'Haa… haha… hahahaha…'
I didn't need to think of anything else. Just a way to reduce the pain in my head. If I could relieve myself, then I could think better.
"I c-can buy it… onli—"
>ZZZZTTZZZZDING!
{The realm of the gods, Paradise, will be revealed to the chosen humans. Overcome the 99 Floors and reach the Final Realm.}
{Your mission is to survive the Tutorial so you can be qualified to enter Paradise. Time Left until the end of the Tutorial: 168 hrs: 00 mins: 00 secs}
I could feel it choking me as I reached my doorstep, struggling to open the door to my haven and locking the outside world from me forever.
[SYSTEM WARNING]
I could…
>SQUELCH!
{You will soon die…}
I closed my eyes, embracing the pain, and letting the darkness swallow me whole. It was at this point that I realized I never existed, to begin with.
This was simply a dream…
[You Have Died]
{Based On Exclusive Skill: , your recent experiences have been dissolved into a dream}
[You Will Now Wake Up]
… And I was the Dreamer.
*
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[A/N]
Will Mikey find a way out of this maddening loop? Or will he continue to suffer like this forever?
Find out in the next chapter!
If you've made it this far, it shows you're genuinely interested in the story. So, please… SUPPORT ME!
Thank you.