INSCRIPTED REALITIES

There was a loud beep as a line of bold white text floated in the darkness.

WELCOME TO THE SYSTEM ZONE

CHOSEN AUTHOR 5CHEV2004

A chill ran down my spine as the words glowed brightly against the darkness, casting an eerie glow.

What the fuck…

AN ANOMALY HAS BEEN DETECTED…

CONTACT WITH THE DYING HOST WORLD.

The words flashed before my eyes, leaving me in a state of confusion as my head throbbed.

Anomaly? Finding out about the truth?

YOU HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTING TO ALTER THE STORY…

My heart pounded, my mind racing as I thought of the events that had taken place.

The disorientation, the confusion, the imposter syndrome…the guilt.

It’s my story! I can alter whatever the fuck I want!

INACCURATE. AUTHORS ARE MERELY VESSELS CHOSEN FOR THE SCRIBE’S BLESSING.

You can…hear my thoughts?

INDEED

My stomach twisted as a creeping dread spread through me.

Vessels for the scribe’s blessing…what does that mean?

THE STORY IS PREDETERMINED.

YOU ARE MERELY IMPLANTED WITH IT AND WRITE IT DOWN TO ENSURE IT GETS ENOUGH SOUL POWER TO EXIST

My breath hitched. My mind raced as I tried to grasp the implications of those words. The void seemed to be pressing against my skin.

What are you…I’m the one who wrote this story. I-

DID YOU REALLY?

I paused, pursing my lips. I felt suffocated, there seemed to be a lump in my throat as the words caught in it.

No…it just came to me I-

INDEED.

THE WORLD’S EXIST ALONG WITH THEIR FATES.

IT IS ALL PREDETERMINED.

Each word made my chest ache. I curled my fingers into a fist, clenching them till my knuckles turned white.

Then…why do I write?

YOU ARE SIMPLY CHOSEN.

WRITING CHOSEN STORIES GIVES MEANING TO YOUR EXISTENCE AND WORLDLY REWARDS FOLLOW IN THE CASE OF YOUR SUCCESS.

Why…?

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

YOU MERELY NEED TO KNOW IT’S A WIN-WIN SITUATION BETWEEN AUTHORS AND THE SYSTEM.

I clenched my teeth, shutting my eyes to keep more tears from slipping out.

What about their worlds? The protagonists? The people in it?

IRRELEVANT.

MERELY BROKEN SOULS ONLY FIT FOR CONSUMPTION.

A chill ran down my spine, my stomach lurching as I felt dizzy.

Fit...for consumption?

My breath hitched, my chest aching as I remembered his pained voice, his desperate cries, his heartbreak…his despair.

How could you…? They’re people! They deserve just as much-

DO YOU WISH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

My eyes widened at the question, the corners of my lips curling.

Yes…

VERY WELL.

THE SYSTEM SEEKS TO FULFILL ANY WISH OF YOURS ALONG WITH BEING FREE OF PUNISHMENT FOR THE CHARGES AGAINST YOU AS COMPENSATION FOR THE SYSTEM’S ANOMALY.

Wait…any?

My mind raced as I regarded the sentence

So even my family…my life, I can have it all back?

INDEED.

My pulse quickened.

So–no.

I shook my head, taking a deep breath to try and steady my nerves. I thought of Daekhui…everything he’s been through is on my hands and I have to fix it.

But if I never started writing...no. If it isn't me it'll probably be someone else.

Proceed with the previous wish.

VERY WELL.

ESTABLISHING LINK…

Link?

A searing pain shot through my skull travelling down my spine.

I doubled over, gasping as my nails dug into my palms.

PLEASE WAIT…

I clenched my fists, biting down on my lips till the taste of blood filled my mouth.

The air around me grew dense, pressing down on my chest. My breath came in shallow gasps as my vision blurred. The metallic taste on my tongue added to my nausea.

LOADING…

I muffled a scream, pursing my lips whimpering as I writhed in pain.

Sweat trickled down my temples, stinging my eyes.

I have to endure…

SUCCESS!

The word floated over my head. I breathed a shaky sigh of relief as the word appeared and the pain slowly faded.

CONGRATULATIONS, THE LINK HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.

Now what?

WISH FULFILMENT

How?

RETURN TO THE PAST AND CHANGE A SIGNIFICANT PLOT POINT TO CHANGE THE ENDING. (0/5)

Change…the past? Myself?!

My eyes widened as my heart raced at the thought of having to survive in that world. I closed my eyes and gulped.

REWARD: CHANGING THE ENDING AND RETURN TO YOUR WORLD

I understand!

FAILURE: ORIGINAL PLOT WILL BE FOLLOWED

The words sent a shudder through me.

What?!

CHOOSE THE FIRST DESTINATION ______

To be continued...