Chapter One: The Curse of Majora's Mask

"Dammit! What the hell?!"

I growled at the game I was currently playing. Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. I used to play this game all the time but had lost my old cartridge a long time ago. I started playing when I was seven and it had a few glitches here and there but it wasn't as bad as this one.

The cartridge was blank, encased in grey but written on the front in black Sharpie was 'Majora'. It was a really cheap game, and the old guy seemed desperate to get rid of it. Matt, the old guy, kept saying it was cursed and haunted, but I shrugged him off and bought it anyways.

It sucked. It was really glitchy, the Song of Healing played backwards, and characters were places they weren't supposed to be. I had noticed that in the saved files that there was another saved file called "BEN" and shrugged, maybe it was a friend of his that forgot to delete his file before Matt sold it.

I decided to keep the file but frowned. This Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask game cartridge looked in shape on the outside but I guess it was bad on the inside. My character, Link, kept basically killing himself and it was quite disturbing.

The Song of Healing was reversed and loud and this weird statue, which I recognized as the Elegy of Emptiness statue, kept showing up behind me...following me...everywhere Link went. It was like the statue was there just to watch Link drown himself or burst into flames.

I felt a bad feeling shiver up my spine but sucked in a breath as Link died...for the umpteenth time. Bursting into fire in front of the statue and the creepy-ass Mask Salesman. At the bottom of the screen, a little message popped up, making me jolt in surprise.

'You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?'

I blinked.

'I've met with a terrible fate?'

I thought.

'What does that mean?'

I sighed and shut the game off, sitting back and watching the cartridge in a confused state of mind. I heard a beep come from my laptop, signaling a notification. I got up and saw a site I never even knew existed pop up; Cleverbot.

Bot: You shouldn't have done that...

User: What shouldn't have I done?

Bot: You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you.

I froze, fear tingling up my spine. I subconsciously looked at the Legend of Zelda game and blew out a shaky breath. I typed in response, my fingers shaking in undeniable fear.

User: Umm...no, not yet.

Bot: You will...the counter resets.

User: Isn't that referring to to the Clock Tower in Clock Town in Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask?

Bot: Very smart girl. That made you even prettier.

User: Really? uh...thanks? I gotta go, see ya later

I desperately tried to turn off my laptop but it wouldn't turn off. It was like something was keeping it on. I gasped when the screen turned black and in bright, glowing red letters, one phrase popped up.

You shouldn't have done that

I closed my laptop and shot up, running out of the room. I grabbed my cellphone, backpack, jacket, and some money and texted my friend Jake.

Me: Dude, something really, really weird just happened. Can I come over for a little while and tell you about it? My parents are gone for two months because of a some vacation in the Bahamas they planned...without even telling me -_- i would have loved to go...sneaky bitches.

Jake: Ouch...that was mean of them...you would have looked good in a bikini ^-^ sure, if you want to. You can stay here until they get back if you want, Sofia misses you like crazy. She won't leave me the hell alone. Where's _? Where's _? Please, end my misery and get your ass over here!

I laughed out, locking the front door. Sofia was Jake's little sister and she was the cutest thing ever. Jake had short, dark brown hair with icy blue eyes. He was about 5ft9 and was very built and sometimes a big pervert. He wore nerdy glasses though and was a brainiac, so he wasn't a jock even though he could pass as captain of the football team

We have known each other since kindergarten, when he had run into me and dropped confetti and glitter all over me. We just clicked after that, and he was excited when he found out his mom was pregnant with Sofia. Sofia had long, curly brown hair and took green eyes after her father. She was only seven years old but she was one of the most down-to-earth kids I have ever met.

I always made sure to give her some sort of sweet when I came over. Lollipops, taffy, Jolly Ranchers...yeah, she loved me. I ran through the neighborhood, feeling like something or someone was watching me. I ran faster to his house and picked up a few pebbles.

One by one, I threw them at his window. After about the fifth one, he came into view, opening the window.

"Girl, what the hell do you think you're doing, hitting my window with rocks. What the fuck is wrong with you?"

I grinned and ignored, yelling.

"Open the door...NOW!"

He scoffed, rolling his eyes and closing the window.

"Bossy, bossy."

I heard a loud squeal come from inside and Sofia ran out, smiling and yelling with open arms.

"_! You're back! Did you bring me a treat?"

I picked her up as she hugged me, nuzzling her nose and replied, pulling out four, small Hershey Chocolate bars.

"Of course I did, when don't I ever?"

She smiled wider and hugged me, taking the treats and running off.

"Thank you!"

I shrugged and Jake laughed, shaking his head. I walked in past him, greeting his parents.

"Hi Mr. and Mrs. Steel, sorry about the sudden arrival...oh god that smells good!"

His father waved from the kitchen and his mother replied, hugging me.

"It's OK hon, how are you?"

"Could be better, parents disappeared for two months. They went to the Bahamas without even telling me!"

Jake said from the kitchen, the sound of a hand smacking his head following.

"I still think you should have gone, you would have looked hot in a bikini-OW! What was that for?!"

His mother glared at him and I dramatically gasped, a hand to my mouth and said, hands on my hips.

"Oh, so you're saying I look ugly any other time? Wow, you're such a nice friend, Jacob Ray Steel! Maybe I should play with Sofia while I'm here and not speak to you at all."

His jaw dropped and his parents snorted, his father finishing their dinner.

"No, that's not what I meant! I think you, uh, look pretty all the time...yeah..."

His hand rubbed the back of his head as a blush splashed over his cheeks. I grinned. Did I mention he also has the most horrible and biggest crush on me ever? I grabbed his hand and dragged him off to his room while saying.

"Come on, you lover boy. I gotta tell you this."

We sat on his bed, me kicking off my shoes and him laying down, a hand behind his head and the other laying across his stomach. I started off by asking, getting his attention immediately.

"Do you remember that old game I had lost; Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask?"

His blue eyes narrowed a bit in suspicion.

"Yeah, why?"

I took a breath, starting to shake a bit. Jake sat up, watching me in concern.

"I had found another cartridge...but after a while of playing it, really weird things started happening."

He nodded, an interested look in his eye.

"This game is really glitchy, and Link just keeps...killing himself. Mostly drowning himself. Before I had started playing and bought the game, the owner was really desperate to get rid of it so I bought it. He kept saying it was cursed and haunted and I was going to get hurt if I played the game.

"I thought nothing of it but now...I think he was right. There was a file saved in the game called 'BEN' and I thought it was a friend of his that forgot to delete it. I kept it though. He was almost done with the game! I wasn't going to be rude and delete it!

"I kept it and made my own, using my old nickname Spider. After playing and getting to Clock Town, it started glitching really bad. The Elegy of Emptiness statue kept appearing everywhere and the Song of Healing played in reverse and very loudly.

"Then today, I got mad as Link killed himself again. However, a message popped up afterwards before letting me go back to where I was...'You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you.' So, freaked out, I shut the game off so I wouldn't go all ninja on it. Then, my computer brought up a site I have never ever heard of before: Cleverbot..it said 'You shouldn't have done that'

"I replied, obviously freaked out. 'What shouldn't have I done?' and it said..."

I took in a shaky breath before continuing.

"'You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you.' and I felt a bad feeling so I replied. 'Umm...no, not yet.' and the bot replied back 'You will...the counter resets.'. That is a reference to the Clock Tower, notice that? So I said 'Isn't that referring to to the Clock Tower in Clock Town in Majora's Mask?' and it replied 'Very smart girl. That made you even prettier.' So I said in response 'Really? uh...thanks? I gotta go, see ya later'

"When I tried shutting off my laptop, it wouldn't shut off. It was like something didn't want it off. The screen turned black and in big, red letters, it said 'You shouldn't have done that' so I was like 'Nope!' and fled over here."

Jake had wide eyes and mouth agape when I finished. I asked him in concern, his facial expression making me a little scared.

"Jake, are you ok?"

"Do you know how messed up that is? Oh my god, that guy was right! That game is haunted. You gotta get rid of it as soon as possible, I don't like where this is going..."

"I want to know what is going on! This isn't normal and I'm going to figure out what's going on."

He stuttered, confused on what to say.

"I...I just don't you to get hurt... I mean, it's obviously haunted and we don't know what this thing is capable of...maybe you should stay here until your parents get home..."

Mrs. Steel's voice rang through the house before I could respond.

"Kids! Dinner's ready!"

I immediately yelled, running down the stairs to the dinner table and the awaiting family.

"Last one to the table is a rotten egg and kisses my butt!"

I heard Jake yell out and I ran to the table, sitting in the seat beside Jake's assigned seat. The food looked delicious and smelled awesome; mashed potatoes, green beans, steaks, and hot rolls with butter.

"Y'all won't like it so why not give that all to me."

Mr. Steel laughed out and retorted, grinning.

"Fat chance, kid. This is MY cooking and everybody loves my cooking."

I smarted off playfully, making Jake glare at me.

"Gee, now I definitely know where Jake gets it from."

Mrs. Steel laughed and I grinned as we started eating. I asked politely as Sofia struggled with cutting her steak, saying her nickname I gave her myself.

"Sofia-Mia, you want me to help you?'

She nodded slowly, sighing. I got up, walked to her, and cut her food for her, her family watching me. Sofia clapped, satisfied.

"Thank you, _! It's beautiful!"

I laughed and ruffled her hair, walking back to my seat.

"You're welcome, Sofia-Mia"

After dinner, Jake and I went to my house to get my clothes after we spoke to his parents. His mom was a little concerned but his father immediately welcomed me. Jake had told me I would sleep in his 'Mancave' in the attic. I agreed with a smile.

We walked closer to the house and I got the bad feeling again. I took hold of Jake's hand and he glanced at me and I sighed, answering his silent question.

"I'm just really nervous...whatever you do, do not leave my side. I don't know if it's safe to separate."

Jake nodded and his grip tightened around my hand. We walked up to the steps and a strong smell of iron hit my nose. I coughed and unlocked the door, slowly opening it. The smell got stronger as we went to my room where the game cartridge was. My laptop was open and the screen was on.

All of a sudden it flashed, making me jump, yelp, and latch onto Jake. A message in red popped up, making Jake stiffen.

'I missed you, where do you think you're going?'

I gulped and ignored the message in blood, glowing red, going to my dresser to pack my clothes. Jake came beside me and he asked me, grabbing one of my favorite bra's. I smacked his hand and he grinned.

"Wow, is this beautiful designed bra for me?"

"Jake! I'm gonna kick your ass! Go down a drawer!"

He laughed and did as told, grabbing my jeans and shorts. We froze as a soft whisper flooded through the room.

"I asked you a question, Princess. Where do you think you're going?"

Jake slowly glanced at me and I turned around slowly, widening my eyes more and backing into the dresser. Jake gasped and did the same as me, as the blonde haired boy just grinned evilly. I realized he looked just like Link in the game but sucked in a breath.

He had black eyes...empty except for the red, glowing dots in the middle. A blackish, red liquid slowly dripped from them, giving the idea he was crying blood. Maybe it was blood, but I didn't want to find out. He wore a green tunic that went to his knees and brown boots, his blonde, shaggy hair enveloped in a hat.

I noticed he had elf ears and tried my hardest not to laugh and keep a straight face...for all I know, he could be a killer...and laughing at him just might piss him off. He had on an evil, yet mysterious grin and his muscular arms were crossed against his chest.

He had, what seemed to be, a short sword hanging beside him. His soft, yet demonic voice broke my thoughts, making me jolt in surprise.

"See something you like?"

I immediately retorted, glaring and forgetting this Link look-a-like wasn't Jake.

"Ha! You totally wish, dream on!"

The Link look-a-like expression darkened and an inhuman growl emitted from his chest. Jake got in front of me, protectively. I rolled my eyes almost immediately. Jake tried to reason.

"Hey, we were just here for a couple of things. We don't mean any trouble..."

The Link look-a-like simply said, a bored expression on his face and shrugging.

"I don't care. I'm not here for you anyway, lovesick puppy."

Ouch. The venom in his voice was harsh. Jake looked taken-back and I gulped, asking in a small voice.

"Who are you here for? What's your name?"

The boy's eyes traveled over to me and I felt a uncomfortable feeling run through me as he looked me up and down. He grinned and said, his eyes glowing a much brighter red and the liquid fell out faster.

"I'm here for you, Princess. My name is BEN. I'm the thing haunting you."

I was about to ask why he called me 'Princess' but then the feeling of something filling my lungs erupted through me, making me choke for air. I grabbed my throat, choking for air I wasn't getting. I felt more water fill my lungs and I fell to my knees, spasming and trying to breathe.

Jake yelled my name and BEN laughed loud, throwing his head back and shaking as he laughed. Black spots assaulted my vision and Jake started yelling something at BEN. I heard the boy's voice whisper into my head as I watched him jump into my laptop, disappearing as I passed out.

You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you Princess?

CLIFF HANGER! REVIEW PLEASE!