It was on an impulse.
That was the only explanation Scarlett Chae could come up with as to why there was a new app on her phone. Not just any app though, a dating simulator app. The only kind of app she would even remotely consider downloading via an impulse. Perhaps she really was desperate enough to have gone this far for a game. Or maybe she just wanted something that would kill her time between work and those long, sleepless hours of the night. In the end it all circled back to just that one thing: an impulse.
Even now the icon stared up at her, screaming impulse decisions with its classic usage of an attractive red-headed male. She couldn't help but feel connected with the crimson haired mascot on some basic relatable level. The way he gazed tiredly at his phone, as if he had been up all night surfing various social medias and whatnot, was something she could identify with quite easily. Lately she has either been sleeping for too long, or not all, with hardly any happy medium to compensate for her exhaustion.
Well… Hopefully this game would provide her with a little bit of entertainment. Dating simulators weren't really her thing, as they always felt too cliched and unoriginal. Not to mention that the MC was usually a helpless damsel, which she deeply despised to her very core, and always seemed to have this MarySue approach to solving problems. But impulses were a hazardous thing when boredom reigns supreme. She could always just get rid of it and find something else if it came right down to it.
With a resigned sigh Scarlett clicked on the app and patiently waited for everything to load, then went through the process of "joining" the R.F.A by submitting her email to create an account. She had to give Cheritz props for going the extra mile to give it a realistic vibe. Now to see if they could pull through the rest of the way.
Scarlett stood up from her couch as she hit a downloading session in the game, maneuvering around furniture to go stand on her balcony and enjoy the crisp night air. She leaned against the railing, facing the adjacent apartment complex from her own. The music on her phone got a little bit louder and saw that it asked for her to select a profile picture and input a username. After flipping through the built in icons, none of which fit her taste, she went into her own photo album and chose her favorite; a side view of a girl with long hair and a red scarf. When she was satisfied with both her username and profile picture, Scarlett clicked the okay button.
The screen went black for only one moment, before being plunged into a swirling world of code. Scarlett almost dropped her phone; the graphics of this game actually looked like she had accidentally managed to download a virus, and it gave her heart an unexpected jump start. Despite the small fright she couldn't help but grin a little. Finally, a game that seemed to hold some potential.
The code stopped.
- Unknown has entered the chatroom -
Unknown: ...Hello?...
A little answer box blinked at the bottom of the screen and she clicked it, expecting pre-made answers for her to choose from. What she wasn't expecting, but found it thoroughly pleasing regardless, was the option to input her own answer.
"Finally, a chance to have a sensible conversation with fictional characters," she muttered with a smirk. She quickly set into sending in a response.
Lumikki: Hi
Unknown: Can you see this?
Lumikki: Wouldn't be responding otherwise.
Unknown: …
Unknown: I'm sure you're surprised.
Unknown: It's not everyday that you get a text from a stranger.
Scarlett snorted. It wasn't everyday she played a dating sim game either. Guess the world was going topsy turvy.
Unknown: I'm a bit flustered myself. I found a smartphone at the subway station, but all it had was this messenger app.
Unknown: I want to find the owner, but I don't see any contact info or call records…
Lumikki: Sounds like a burn phone lol
Unknown: A burn phone?
Lumikki: Yeah, you know, a disposable phone. Like the kind you see in all sorts of crime movies and stuff. They're supposed to be untraceable. Leave no evidence and all that.
Unknown: Oh… well… I've been sending messages with this app but no reply…
Unknown: All I see is an address and some important looking numbers saved in some notes.
Unknown: I'd like to go there myself, but I'm currently abroad…
Lumikki: Welp, sucks for you buddy.
Lumikki: And, uh, if you didn't find any contacts, yet you found important looking numbers saved in the notes, wouldn't that be kinda contradicting?
Unknown: I suppose it would sound that way coming from a stranger like myself
Unknown: but these don't look like phone numbers.
Unknown: They're more like digits you'd use to unlock something.
Lumikki: Oookay then. Anyways, gonna introduce yourself? Maybe? Possibly?
Unknown: Me? Oh sorry.
Unknown: I'm just a student studying abroad. I'm Korean.
Unknown: I could tell you my name, but it doesn't really matter.
Lumikki: Uh, hold up. Yes it kind of does.
Unknown: You won't find me on search engines ^^;
Lumikki: Avoiding the question; check. So far you're results are leading up to questionable creepy person! Hope this is the kind of character you wanted to be.
Unknown: You are a very difficult person to converse with.
Lumikki: ◔ ⌣ ◔ What on earth could have given that away? Was it one of the sarcastic comments I've made?
Unknown: (ㅍ_ㅍ)
Unknown: Anyways…
Unknown: Can you help me find the owner of this phone? I know that I appear to be a "creepy person", as you've so eloquently put it, but still…
Unknown: I'd appreciate it if you could help.
By this point Scarlett was laughing. Despite her hardest efforts to bait the AI into veering off topic it did its damn near best to stick to whatever programmed script it had. For a dating game, it sure was entertaining.
Lumikki: Alright, alright. What can I do for ya?
Unknown: Um… I'd like for you to go the address that's saved on here.
Unknown: I know the area. It's developed and really safe.
Lumikki: Well, spit it out.
Unknown: You trust me…
Unknown: Thank you!
Lumikki: Let's not confuse trust for curiosity now…
Lumikki: I mean, I can totally go back on this at anytime you know.
Unknown: Right…
Unknown: Just a sec and I'll send you the address
Unknown: Here it is.
Unknown: -Address Link-
She tapped on the glowing yellow link and was surprised to see an actual address appear. A frown slipped down her face easier than a silken nightgown as she studied the location. It was uncannily close to where she was now…
Scarlett looked up from her phone, her eyes slowly, almost unwillingly, traveling up the adjacent building to gaze upon its name. For several seconds she glanced between the phone screen and what was literally right in front of her. Somewhere in the uncharted depths of her mind alarm bells were ringing. Along with those bells she couldn't help but be reminded of Star Wars, of all the things to remember at a time like this, and how the one alien dude had very amusingly stated the obvious. "It's a trap!"
Yet the curiosity was beginning to outright nag at her desires. Why would Cheritz use a real address? Was it a coincidence it was so close to her? What if someone that was actually a part of the Cheritz team lived in that building? Was this supposed to be some sort of real life interactive Easter Egg? Did this game even have Easter Eggs? She wasn't really sure of that last part, as she had made it a priority to avoid whatever hype there might have been about this game as much as possible. Being so close to some unknown possibility… It was almost surreal.
Her decision was made on an immediate impulse.
Lumikki: I'll be over there soon.
Unknown: Really? Thank you so much!
Lumikki: Don't thank me just yet. Curiosity and lack of impulse control are the driving force behind this decision, not you.
Turning on her heel, Scarlett left her balcony and hurried to collect her purse and jacket before slipping on a pair of comfortable sneakers. Within minutes she was out of her apartment and streetside before she could stop to think twice about her decision. After checking both ways and finding the coast clear, she ran across the street and slipped as quietly as a breathless person could into the opposing building.
The first thing that hit her was the scent of disinfectant. She wrinkled her nose and continued forward at a moderate pace. The walls of the spacious hallway were an off white, with an ashen-beige carpet to subtly compliment it. At the far end was an elevator, and after a quick check from her phone she knew that she needed to go up. Beside it was an opening to a stairwell. As she carried on walking the length of the hall she couldn't help but shiver. This place felt too formal. Almost like the quietest parts of a hospital…
Scarlett shook her head, lightly flinging chocolate colored hair from side to side, and hurried upstairs before she started to seriously doubt her decision making skills. When she reached the designated apartment she was greeted by a high-tech looking lock.
Lumikki: Okay I'm here, now what?
Unknown: Is there a password lock on the door?
Lumikki: … Yeah. Kinda weird that you'd know that, but okay, continue.
Unknown: It's just a guess. Here are the digits, try it.
Lumikki: Haha, you've gotta be joking. Why would I just punch in some random digits without knocking first? I don't know about you, but I'd be freaked out if some stranger just walked into my secured apartment.
Unknown: Fair point. Try knocking then.
"Boy, aren't you just a straightforward kind of guy. Can't tell if that's admirable or just downright suspicious."
Scarlett looked at the door, deliberating. What if she was making a mistake? Sure, she could always apologize and blame it on the game, but the embarrassment afterwards… Ugh. Of course, in her line of work she was trained to take embarrassment and shove a cork in it, but that didn't stop her from feeling it. Humiliation was something that, if left to sit inside of her, could and most likely would make her sick.
But if she just sat out her waiting for herself to make a decision while looking like an idiot…
Her arm made up her mind for her, raising itself to knock her knuckles firmly against the cool metal. After an intense moment of waiting she came to the conclusion that no one was home.
Lumikki: No one's home.
Unknown: Now will you try the digits?
Lumikki: I don't know. I was thinking I might stop and grab a sandwich before I did anything like that. You want something?
Unknown: Please be serious for a moment!
Unknown: All you need to do is go inside and leave my info for the owner of the phone and that's it.
Lumikki: But what good will your info do if your name isn't even relevant to me? lol
Unknown: (╬≖ิ_≖)
Unknown: Why are you so insistent on being difficult?
Lumikki: lololol why are there so many holes in your story?
Unknown: Will you just enter the passcode?
Lumikki: Fiiiiiinnneee
Lumikki: Geez what are you? My mom? You've got the same patience as she did when I tried to get out of doing the dishes you know.
Unknown: That poor woman.
Lumikki: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ What can I say? I was an angel.
Unknown: More like a devil.
Unknown: -Link-
A long, heavy sigh passed between her lips. Maybe this place was just a checkpoint. This game could possibly be interactive, like Pokèmon Go or something…
"What am I even doing?" she muttered, punching in the digits. There was a faint click and she grabbed the handle, twisting and pulling it open wide enough to allow her entrance. Beyond the door was a large room. There was no wall separating the kitchen from the living area, and alongside the left wall was what looked like a mildly untamed office area. The cream colored couches were big, firm looking, and adorned with orange puffy looking pillows. All in all it was a very nice looking place.
Lumikki: I'm in. All I have to do is leave a note, right?
Unknown: Yes.
Unknown: Th
Unknown: ank
Unknown: you…
The screen flashed with a wall of code and a high pitched sound wailed from her phone. Startled, Scarlett dropped the device. She watched in mute horror as her phone went beserk before shutting off completely.
"What the fu-," She caught herself when it turned back on. Suddenly she was in a chatroom different from the first. Quietly kneeling down, Scarlet observed the action transpiring on her phone.
- Lumikki has entered the chatroom -
Yoosung: Failed my midterm fml T_T
Yoosung: (ಥ_ಥ)
707: Cuz u played LOLOL all night lol.
Jumin Han: If you want to work for our company, you should take care of your GPA.
It didn't take very long for the confusion to set in. And the moment the people in the chat had begun arguing about the difference between nepotism and recruitment she had clocked out. Of course she knew what the difference was between the two, strange words were kind of her thing and actually pretty interesting, but a petty argument like this was anything but.
She briefly studied the icons of the individual commenters, only recognizing the one with the username 707. His profile picture here was just as moody looking as the picture for the game's icon was. But it was hard to deny that he wasn't all that bad in the looks department. The few emoji's he sent through were kind of cute too.
Scarlett tentatively picked up her phone and stood, glancing around the room. Although her initial thought of the place had been that it looked nice, she could now see that it actually hadn't been used in a while. What kind of trap had she walked into?
"You and your impulses." She shook her head as she berated herself, turning in a complete circle to take everything in. To the right she noticed two doors; one she assumed led to a bedroom and the other to a bathroom. Before she got too carried away with everything, though, she made sure to check how the conversation was moving along on her phone.
Jumin Han: Why is a stranger in our chatroom?
Jaehee Kang: No one can enter this chatroom without installing the private app we use… It seems someone has downloaded the RFA Messenger.
Quick as a bolt of lightning, she jumped to respond.
Lumikki: Yeah, hi there. Here's the thing- I did download an app, but it was supposed to be for a game called Mystic Messenger. Idk what this is, your chatroom just appeared after my phone got done being possessed by some sort of demonic spirit or something.
Yoosung: GAHH IT'S TALKING!
Yoosung: ヽ(ﾟДﾟ)ﾉ
Lumikki: Dude… chill.
Jumin Han: Who is it?
Jaehee Kang: How did you find out about this place? Where did you download the application?
707: Oh… ^^; Wait.
707: Just found something. This is weird.
Zen: What is it. Hurry and tell me.
707: I traced the IP…
707: It's from Rika's apartment.
Lumikki: Hey, uh, could you maybe not tell this Rika person that I came into their apartment? I promise that I didn't touch anything and I'll get out of here right quick and pretend like this never happened.
Lumikki: Heck, I'll even delete this app simply because I think it might have implanted some sort of virus on my phone… Gonna have to get that checked out…
Jaehee Kang: I assume this to be a confession that you did indeed break into the apartment?
Jaehee Kang: Mr. Han, should I notify the authorities?
Lumikki: No!
Lumikki: Look, I was led to this apartment by some 'Unknown'. He gave me the address and passcode to get in. I just thought that it was all a part of the game.
Zen: Lumikki, you keep mentioning a game. How did you get this game?
Lumikki: App Store, duh.
707: Hold on Lumikki. Don't delete anything yet. We need all the facts here.
Yoosung: Seven are you hacking into the stranger's stuff?
Lumikki: (◡ ‿ ◡✿)
Lumikki: (ʘ ‿ ʘ✿) I'm sorry, what was that?
707: lol there's no proof that I'm doing that lololol
Lumikki: (≖_≖) That is a terrible lie…
707: T_T so suspicious lol
Zen: The lol's certainly don't help your cause…
707: lol I know（ ∂ ω ∂ )
Scarlett closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. What had started out as something fairly amusing was now turning into the beginnings of a migraine. It was like she was surrounded by brilliant people with the tendency to be stupid only when they were around her. Yet another reason to dislike dating games. But could this even be considered a game anymore?
She chanced a peek at her phone again and saw that there had been some sort of small discussion pertaining to what a 'log' meant in technical lingo. It was enough to force her to thoroughly rub her eyes, pushing in just a little too hard. Scarlett glanced at the couch and thought about what a good idea it would be to sit down before she did something stupid pertaining to her health.
Jaehee Kang: Everyone please calm down. Let's look at the situation at hand.
707: Hmm. Good point, Jaehee.
Lumikki: …
Lumikki: (ㅍ_ㅍ) hmmmm
Zen: Is something the matter, Lumikki?
Lumikki: Yeah it's called thinking and giving myself a headache.
Jumin Han: Fierce.
Zen: Are you a woman?
Lumikki: omg can we not get into that right now?
Yes, now it was all coming back to her just what else it was she didn't like about otome games…
Jaehee Kang: I think it would be a good idea to call V.
707: Yeah I think that's a good idea.
Lumikki: K you guys do that, I'm gonna go home and give myself some advil…
707: Sorry Lumikki, but could you just stay where you're at for now?
Lumikki: Oh you've gotta be kidding me.
707: Nopesorrytypingwithonehandhere
Zen: Finish talking to V and then talk with us!
A slow pulse was building up at the base of her skull. When she had woken up today, or really more like when she had stopped trying to doze off, the last scenario she had expected to wind up in was… whatever this was. In fact, she hadn't even come close to imagining a scenario like this at all! Of course she never did think to factor in how boredom and impulses would work together either. Perhaps she should write a book and title it: 'Impulses and How They Get You Into Trouble'.
While she fantasized about the money she could make off a book like that, the chatroom buzzed with activity.
V: I'm already logged in.
707: Oh, V! You're here ^_^
Zen: Finally he's here.
V: Yeah. I guess I'm the last to know about this.
Jumin Han: Oh well.
707: I told him everything through the phone.
Whatever everything even entailed. She wondered if that also meant the stuff he supposedly hacked into. Scarlett hoped not. There were some things she didn't want strangers, or even people close to her, to know about. Some things she wished that even she didn't know. Particularly about her…condition.
V: Do not ask Lumikki about it and Lumikki, please do not reveal the address.
Lumikki: Huh? What? Oh yeah sure, no problem.
Zen: lol Lumikki were you zoned out?
Lumikki: Source?
707: lol
Yoosung: lol
Lumikki: Anyways, now that you know what's going on, can I go home now?
V: I'm sorry, but not until we get everything sorted out. We still have to gather more information on this Unknown person and make sure that you and all of the important things in Rika's apartment are safe.
Lumikki: Aaand how long is this supposed to take?
V: I'm not sure. It might be possible that Rika knew this Unknown and he was just trying to carry out one of her final wishes.
V: Rika… had a deep world of her own, so anything is possible.
Lumikki: You… you keep talking about this Rika in the past tense. Is she…?
Lumikki: And, um, sorry if I'm being insensitive by prying.
V: No, it's fine.
V: Rika… passed away a year and a half ago.
Lumikki: Oh… I'm sorry.
Scarlett looked around. She had broken into a dead person's house. A dead person's house.
V: I believe that maybe… Maybe Rika wanted someone like you to continue her work.
Lumikki: Um… work?
707: Hosting parties?!
Lumikki: HA! What a coincidence…
Yoosung: ﴾͡๏̯͡๏﴿?
Lumikki: Look, I've already got a job in a catering business. I don't know if I'd be able to do any of Rika's work too.
707: Well, since you'll be stuck in Rika's apartment until the green light then you should help out with us anyways!
V: Besides, you're practically in the same boat as us because of this messenger app.
Lumikki: ಠ_ಠ
Lumikki: So in other words I don't have much of a choice.
Jumin Han: For the time being, it seems.
V: Lumikki, I know this seems really sudden, but will you please consider it?
Scarlett stared at his plea. There was something saddeningly desperate about it. Perhaps she was reading into it too much, but as she watched the other people in the chatroom fire away their opinions, it was very hard not to think that way. Whoever this Rika person had been, she had been very important to these people. And they were desperate enough to feel her in anyway they could, even if it was through a stranger like herself.
What had started out as fun and games, literally, had suddenly become one of the few realest moments she had ever faced. The decision should have been one of the easiest to make; she was a stranger that had no business entertaining the affairs of other people. She had her own life to bother with, her own job to do, and problems to deal with. But the morally righteous part of her refused to go down without a fight. When the game had clearly stopped being a game Scarlett had been thrust amongst real people and asked for real help. And with as lost as these people seemed…
Her sigh seemed to echo around the cavernous room.
Lumikki: Alright.
Yoosung: Huh?
Lumikki: I'll help out with this party thing or whatever.
Yoosung: Really?! You'd do that for us?
Jumin Han: A direct answer.
Jumin Han: I like it.
Jaehee Kang: Are you sure though? Wasn't that a bit too sudden?
Lumikki: Really? Cause I'm pretty sure I zoned out long enough for the Zen dude and Mr. Cat-Guy to have another argument and…
Lumikki: The Yoosung person to get angry with the boss V
Zen: Zen dude?
Jumin Han: Mr. Cat-Guy?
Lumikki: Yes.
Lumikki: Anyways, I'll join your group and find a way to balance this around my job and other… things.
V: Lumikki, thank you for doing this, and again I apologize for how sudden all this is happening.
707: Your replies are getting later.
V: Yeah, sorry. I have to go now. I'll get back to you guys with details for the party when I can.
V: Seven, will you take care of the rest?
707: Of course, already on it.
V: Well, goodbye then.
- V has left the chatroom -
Lumikki: ...Can I just take my leave right now too?
Jumin Han: We'll need to explain what the RFA is, and just what is expected of you, Lumikki.
Jumin Han: Assistant Kang
Jaehee Kang: Sir, with all do respect, can we really just induct a stranger into the group? I understand that most everyone here trusts and respects what V says, but I find this difficult to grasp and accept.
Lumikki: Seconded, honestly.
Lumikki: And look, I promise I'll be back tomorrow. So you can explain everything to me then, but right now I really need to go. My head hurts and it's hard to see my phone screen.
And it wasn't a lie. The migraine that had been developing had fully bloomed at the base of her skull and was wracking her head with a throbbing pain that nothing weak like an advil could kill. It wasn't the worst that she had endured, but when the screen started blurring and dividing into two she knew she needed to wrap things up.
Zen: It is late. Perhaps we should wait until tomorrow. Headaches are caused by an overload of stress, and stress produces lines. We wouldn't want to ruin Lumikki's gorgeous face!
Lumikki: ...but you don't even know what I look like.
Zen: Doesn't mean you aren't beautiful ;)~
Lumikki: Oh, well… Thanks I guess?
Lumikki: Anyways, I'm gonna leave. No stoppin me now!
- Lumikki has left the chatroom -
707: Wait!
707: Damn, she left so fast brb
- 707 left the chatroom -
Scarlett closed her eyes and hung her head. Whatever trap it was that she herself had just personally gotten entangled with, it wasn't going to end well. For however long it would be that she'd have to work with these people she'd always have to keep them at an arm's length away. If she risked getting close to them somehow… Well, it wouldn't be fair to them. They've already lost one person they cared about.
Standing up, she readied herself to leave, slinging the strap of her purse over her shoulder and making a move towards the door. Before she could get in a full step, however, her phone rang. A squeaky "Yipe!" escaped her and she played a dangerous game of hot potato with her phone before holding it steady to check the caller ID.
707
Answer / Dismiss
"What the-," She swiped the green phone across the screen and put the device to her ear. "How did you get my phone number?"
A rich, deep voice cackled in amusement on the other line and she frowned at the floor. "It's a secret. Haha. No, just kidding. I got your info when I did my research."
Her hand found it's way to her temple and she worked circles on it double time. "And by research I assume that's referring to hacking?"
"Yes. Maybe. Who knows? It's a secret!" Scarlett could almost see the man on the other side of the line throwing his hands up in the air in a carefree manner. Her free hand made its way to the bridge of her nose and she pinched it tightly, hoping it'd be the equivalent of clicking her heels three times and saying there's no place like home. Unfortunately when she opened her eyes she was still in someone else's apartment, and Seven was still talking to her.
"-ou left so quick that I didn't have time to remind you that you needed to stay in Rika's apartment. And if you could not touch anything then that'd be great."
"That's a conundrum there," she muttered. "I'd have to know how to float if you didn't want me to touch anything."
Seven burst into raucous laughter. It was loud enough that she had to slightly pull the receiver away from her ear, wincing slightly. When he toned it down enough that she could speak again, she cleared her throat.
"Anyways, I need to go back to my apartment. There are some things that I have to have with me. Although the idea of staying in an apartment of someone who passed away is kind of creepy, no offense, I'm not objecting to it."
'Despite being against my better judgement,' she thought with an internally pointed stare at herself.
"Hmm…," Seven held the note, attempting to drown out what sounded suspiciously like typing. Scarlett scowled at the door, which was still partially open since she hadn't shut it behind herself in case she needed to make a quick escape, and waited for his response. If he took any longer she'd make the decision for him and just walk out right then and there.
Before her patience could reach its limit, Seven said, "Okay, it looks like the coast is clear for now, but hurry back to Rika's apartment once you've got everything. Can't be too careful you know."
If she had any energy to argue with him then she would have gladly done so, and have provided several pieces of evidence to prove him wrong. But as it was the migraine was more pressing than an argument. She needed painkillers…
It didn't exactly make sense to her how being in Rika's apartment would make her safer, but just as much as she wasn't willing to argue with the Mad Hacker about caution, the same could be said for this matter of safety. For now she'd deal with it just like she dealt with embarrassment at work: by shoving a cork in it.
"Yeah, sure. Whatever you say boss," she sighed tiredly. "I'll be back in, like, fifteen minutes."
"Then I'll set the timer," Seven laughed before a dull tone notified her that he had disconnected. She shoved the phone deep into her pocket and crossed the room to reach the door. Before Scarlett left she cast one more glance into the apartment, her hand gripping the cold metal knob tightly. There was no telling how long she'd be here.
A shiver ran up and down her spine as her gaze traveled over the work desk and she turned away, shutting the door behind her with a quiet metallic click.
First, I'd just like to apologize to anyone who is viewing this on mobile. Whatever looks like a glitch is actually an emoji I used to substitute for those gif things the characters use in the game. Second, holy Hannah I forgot that the prologue was really freakin' long! Once I got done with the conversation with Unknown I tried really hard to cut it down but... ^^; I promise that future chapters won't contain nearly as much script based dialogue. Anyways, this'll be my first attempt at an MM fanfic and I want to include you guys in on the action. I don't have a set pairing for this so here's where I'm gonna let YOU GUYS CHOOSE, kinda like in the game. You can start now sending in (votes?) now if you'd like. There are some big plans in store for this story, so I hope you'll stick around/find interest in it.
Special acknowledgement to Midna3452's short story "Let's Start Over" for being a good spark of inspiration for this story. Thank you.
Best regards,
-Yopū Yuna