Chapter 2: 1 - Rewind
I touch my face as I looked in the mirror where a familiar young and handsome boy in his late teens gazed back.
No-one would believe me if I told anyone about what happened to me. Was it all a dream? Impossible. These memories can't be fake.
But how did I went back 20 years in the past!?
Today was the same exact day as I fell asleep in my room after... I was discarded.
My face scrunched up as memories resurfaced in my mind. The tower that surfaced in key landmarks around the world. The Otherworld and the 'Game' that accompanied it .
Yes, now I remember. Pandemonium. Pure pandemonium. Chaos reigned the world as humanity fought for their own in a battle that left only the worthy.
At first it disguised as the game of the century as a guide of some sorts. Survival skills that people ignored since almost all of the land on earth was already ventured but on a world where different laws, landscapes, and people appeared those survival skills were priceless. That was still 3 years after the launch of the game Sliver of Hope.
Splashing my face with water running out the faucet, I check my bank account to find money that was enough to live 5 years in this place with the minimum amount of bills I can spend.
The people who played the game had an advantage over the others since the Tower also operated like a game. I could buy myself a Gold-class VRI helmet.
VRI stands for Virtual Reality Immersion. Made by the company HH.
( ; )
It uses state of the art technology to send information directly to the brain using a helmet of some sorts. The immersion depends on the class of the helmet ; Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
I don't need that much of an immersion so Gold will do. I need the space for it since Gold and above uses a capsule that takes a lot of space plus the nutrients that must fill a container in the side of said capsule for long time immersion.
I'm gonna need some funds. The game also uses a conversion system. I could use that.
Now that I have a plan in mind let's get started.
** ** **
The nearest mall was a 2-minute walk. First I needed to withdraw my money, but before I went outside the room my phone started to ring. It was 6 in the morning who would call that early?
"Hello?"
"Is this Lucas Wilhelm?"
"Yes, who is it?"
"I am calling from Saint Cruz hospital to inform you that your parents got in an accident-"
I dropped my phone as I remembered today was the day my parents were hospitalized. We were pretty well off but my aunt who was our guardian at that time used the money for our parents medicine in secret. I had only known when she left with our money.
We went into debt and I had to work at a company that was investing in the game early on while taking care of my little sister. I got up from the ground then rushed towards the hospital.
**
I stood in front of the room nervous for it felt so long since I had last seen them. I pushed the door open and saw the family I once lost -no will never lose again.
There were two beds inside occupied each by a man and woman respectively. The couple were bandaged and seemed to have broken a couple of bones. I stood beside the man who I recognize as my father, they were already cleaned when I arrived so I didn't see them too injured except for the bandages but the damage was internal.
A doctor arrived seemingly accompanied by the nurse who left a minute ago after I arrived.
"They are alright for now but they need to use medicine for the internal bleeding to stop, most if not all of their organs are bleeding. Doing a surgery would make it worse though they will be fine after taking the medicine for a couple of years it is a bit pricey. You are the oldest child of the family correct? Then I will perscribe the medicine but if you change your mind I'll also include my number here, contact me if you need anything."
He said in a solemn voice. I accepted the paper that held the names of expensive medicine that would save my parent's life and the doctor's number. He left not long afterward. I was quietly observing them in a seat in the middle of the beds.
They wont die, not this time.
After a couple more minutes I checked the time on my watch it was past 7, I still had to accompany my little sister to school and go myself. Then I realized how full of holes my plan was, I'm gonna need to do this step by step.
**
After bringing the news to my sister while we were eating breakfast I accompanied her to her school which was an all girls school. She's 16, her height is just above my shoulders, her hair is the normal black, their uniform consists of a blouse and a skirt long enough so that parents wouldn't mind, knee high socks and sneakers. My school is still a minute away I checked my belongings for something I left behind but nothing comes to minds.
** ** **
I arranged my stuff as the school bell rings signifying class was over. A group of 3 approached me.
"Hey Luke wanna hang out? There's a newly opened maid cafe at the mall and I heard there were cosplayers too."
The group of 3 was the only friends I had at school when we played the game we teamed up but I couldn't contact them after the Towers emerged.
I missed them too but I still had stuff to do. Kyle the only rich kid in our group asked me, even though he's a rich kid he looks like a poor nerd with shaggy brown hair and glasses plus a worn out jacket. "Sorry can't, I still have to get my sister since my parents were in a crash." I smiled apologetically.
"Yeah, I heard. I thought you would have hired someone to take care of your sister?"
"Yeah."
The twins Leo and Theo. Their full names are Leone and Theodore Lascos. Same in every aspect except preferences.
"The hospital bills plus the medicine are too costly for that, plus I can take care of her on my own."
"Aww come on I heard there were busty maids there."
"And I heard they had perky butts."
See what I mean. Anyway these guys helped me with money especially Kyle. Of course I'd repay them but I never got to see them again when that happened.
"Now now let's not bother Luke since it seems he's gonna be a bit busy, but on one condition?"
"What is it this time?" I raised my brow.
"At least clear your schedule when we play the game Sliver of Hope alright?"
"Of course I wouldn't miss it. Rather I would've asked you guys to team up with me." I wasn't surprised since he said the same thing.
"Say hi for Mr. and Mrs. Wilhelm for me Luke."
"Sure."
Our conversation ends then we split at an intersection as I head towards Selena's school.
**
While walking back my sis asks me.
" Luke?"
"What?"
"Mother said when an emergency happens we should call aunti-"
"No need. You don't trust your brother to take care of you?" I interrupt her
"Ok."
"Promise me not to call auntie?" I held my pinkie out. She then intwined hers.
"Mm. Promise."
We then talked about stuff until we arrived and had dinner, then went to bed after I helped her in her homework.
I don't even know why I have to do it since the future and all but that's still 3 years.
**
I visited my parents the next day with sis before we went to school.
Thankfully they were already concious, some hello's and a couple of minutes talking then goodbye's since we were about to be late.
It was a Saturday tomorrow I'd go shopping with sis and Kyle would give me the helmet this afternoon after school.
After school at the gate.
What I didn't expect was the grade of the helmet Kyle had bought for us. It was Gold grade, different from when he gave us the helmet last time it was Silver. What was different? Surprised I asked.
"Gold? I thought you said it was Silver? Are you sure you're giving this to us?"
"Oh come on, I know I may not look like it were definitely rich so instead of asking why how about why not?"
I smiled wrly. He was always like this, only uses the bare minimum for himself buying things albeit rarely but when he says its on him you don't have to worry about money at all.
"Fine, so tomorrow 6pm the game lauches what's your IGN?"
(In Game Name)
"Let's just type ours in the GC after we register." I just smiled as things were the same.
"Alright." I agree.
"Okay. You really don't wanna come to the maid cafe?" Leo asks again.
"Sure why not? But I'll be coming with Selena." I said. They look at me oddly.
"What?"
"Are you really the Luke we know?" Sigh. This was really annoying.
"Hey, people change and I hope you don't say that after I beat you in the game." I smiled and taunted.
"Hoh it's on."
We arrive at my sister's school the bell began to ring as classes were over. We waited a few more minutes for her to show up then proceeded to the cafe`.
**
Hours passed as I stood in front of the assembled helmet. The sleek metal had openings at the side where heat was pushed away by a fan inside it to not overheat and explode. Fortunately nothing of the like happens now and in the near future. I heard a notification from my phone. It was the GC.
Kyle: 'IGN is Foxy.'
Theo: 'Mine's Blood.'
Leo: 'Ice.'
I type in mine since I know no-one else thought of it. After that I let sis know I'm going in game and I wont be able to be contacted for a while, then checking on other stuff so when it was 5 minutes before launch I head to bed then power it on after wearing it. I immediately fell unconcious.
**
Darkness.
.
.
.
.
A light suddenly appeared momentarily blinding me. After opening my eyes again I am in a white room, I look around but it's empty.
"I see you are awake."
An old man in a lab coat approaches me. I look around again and I am in a laboratory. The first time I saw or experienced this I thought it was real, but it was only the cutscene.
The old man gets a notepad and scribbles something on it. Not long he turns to me.
"Survivor #1365. You are designated as-"
A blue screen appears in front of me with the words Your Name and a blank space above it. I thought my IGN as words filled the box. After a couple of seconds a check mark appears on the right.
"-Miracle."
** ** **
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone