I always hated the silence.

Not the quiet. Those brief moments of peace on a noisy and busy typical day.

No… the silence.

That long period, where everything seems to stop. Where the animals go hushed, the people become muted, and even the wind stands still. Where your ears can't even pick up a single sound and the hairs rise on the back of your neck because even you subconsciously realize the truth, that the silence is abnormal… unusual.

Unnatural.

This is why, when I came face to face with the true silence, I knew things had gone wrong. For I could see nothing because I had no eyes. I could feel nothing because I had no skin. I tasted nothing because I had no tongue. I smelled nothing because I had no nose. And I heard nothing because I had no ears.

That was the silence. The ultimate silence.

I was nothing.

No, I am nothing.

I-I had died, didn't I? It's obvious now, with this great silence in front of me. How had I died? Who knows? It doesn't matter now. There was nowhere left to go, nothing left to do, nothing left to be.

Only the eternity of the silence, I so hated would remain.

PING!

But eternity never truly lasts forever.

Looking at what was in front of me was quite a shock. I mean one moment, I was monologuing about the endless nothingness of silence laid out in front of me at the end of a very short life, if I do say so myself, the next I was standing in the middle of a very green-brown forest and well, looking at a translucent blue screen.

If this wasn't insanity, then I don't know what is.

Ok, Ok, OK, Curt! What the hell is going on?!

I closed my eyes and tried to focus as I struggled to regain my bearings. Apparently, coming back from literal nothingness wasn't the very relaxing and calming experience advertised. I felt the mother of all headaches rippling through my head as if the Lord himself decided my brain needed to be turned to mush and it needed to be turned now.

Grabbing my head in pain, I opened my eyes to look at the impossibility in front of me. That translucent blue screen was somehow floating.

Welcome Gamer to RWBY the RPG! Out of billions upon billions of souls, you have been randomly chosen to participate in one of the most thorough and rigorous games ever created by the OneUp Gaming Corporation. RWBY the RPG features an advanced artificial intelligence system, premier realism and level design, and a top-of-the-line interface that quite literally immerses you into the world of RWBY.

Be prepared to face challenges unlike any you've ever experienced on Earth. We promise you that this game will be both painful and punishing. Only those with the luck, the skill, and the intellect will be able to overcome these trials and ultimately survive. With that being said please remember that there are no take-backsies. If you reach the end of the game, all of your fantasies and wishes will be granted. If you fail, your soul will be erased back into nothing, never to see life again.

You've been given a second chance so we're sure you know what's at stake here. So good luck out there Gamer.

You're gonna need it.

Reading the text on the screen, worsened my headache, but moreso, it hurt my mind just trying to comprehend it. After all, if someone comes up to you and says you're in a video game, do you just believe them? But I also knew, I should be dead… with a capital D.

I'm not quite sure where I died, when I died, or even how I died, but I know I should be back there in that eternal silence.

Yet here I was, I could feel the gentle breeze of wind on my skin. I could taste the dryness of my tongue, as it begged for a cool liquid to pass over it. I could smell the fragrances of the nearby flowers blooming in the sun. I could hear the sound of running water in the distance along with the almost musical chirping of the birds flying above the treetops.

And I could see midnight-black words on a floating blue screen right in front of my vision.

This is insane!?

And yet, it was real. Very very real.

I could feel my headache beginning to ease up as that realization set in. I was alive again. I was also quite possibly in a game. A game that, in essence, promised me that it was going to do its absolute best to send me back to the void, the nothingness, the silence.

And it was with that conclusion, an undercurrent of fear traveled through my body. Not in just my body, but throughout the world in general. The gentle breeze stopped, and I could no longer hear the chirping birds. The sun dimmed as clouds began to pass over it as if the world was darkening. Or maybe the world was just showing what the sun hid, its true colors.

At the top of the screen, a bright red "X" appeared in the corner. Almost as if it was daring me to touch it. Hesitatingly, I slowly raise my hand and the tip of my finger pressed lightly on the button.

The screen disappeared completely.

And another one reappeared.

PING!

QUEST UNLOCKED

Quest #1:

Escape the Forest

Gamer, back on Earth you were a friendless shut-in with little to no talent. Now you're alone in an unknown place with zero guarantees of help. Your fear and uselessness are obviously apparent. Use whatever means necessary to escape the forest as quickly and as safely as possible. But be warned... Danger lurks nearby.

OBJECTIVE:

Escape the forest using whatever means necessary

BONUS OBJECTIVES:

Escape the forest uninjured

? ? ?

REWARDS:

1000 Experience

You Unlock the Tutorial

BONUS REWARDS:

? ? ?

The appearance of another blue screen that promised further death didn't help my sense of fear. Nor did the game calling me a friendless shut-in help in any way or provide me with some sense of confidence. In fact, I was a little annoyed by that comment. I had friends, thank you very much, just you know, we never met, talked to each other, hung out, or ever really interacted with one another. And so what did it matter that I spent more time at home than most people, I was just a homebody, not a shut-in.

But I digress, my attention was more drawn to the end of the paragraph.

Danger lurks nearby?

I admit I wasn't exactly at the peak of human ability, with my noodle-like arms, somewhat long legs, and skinny body structure, I wasn't going to be picking a fight with anyone at any time of the day. So, being forewarned of danger that felt more like my imminent death (or would it be redeath? death 2.0?) scared the shit out of me. Especially since I knew this world.

I knew RWBY. A decent show, up until the end of Volume 3. Never finished watching it, but at the time, I didn't realize I would ever need it in my life plus the show really went downhill. But besides the point, in the world of Remnant, when you're standing in the middle of a forest and you've just been warned of danger, what is the number one thing you have to worry about? The number one entity that not only held an intense hatred for humanity but actively hunted them down, literally tracking them through fear and other negative emotions?

Yeah, the Grimm.

And right then and there, I felt a shift. I quickly pressed the bright red X on the screen and turned around. The small clearing I resided in was surrounded by the thick dense trees that, I for sure knew, hid humanity's eternal enemy. I looked left and right, back and forth, slowly backing toward the giant rock in the center of it all, hoping to create some kind of protection for myself.

But from the Grimm, there truly is no place to hide. In the depth of the trees, hidden in the darkness, I saw the bright red eyes of that beast. A guttural growl echoed from its maws indicating its hunger. Not an actual hunger to eat or survive, that can be used to justify the actions of normal animals, but a hunger to kill.

From the shadows exited the beast, its black fur, inch by inch, being revealed by the sunlight. Its sharp white claws protruded from its back, arms, hands, and feet. Drool dripped from its mouth, where its knife-like teeth were shown brazenly. But the true indicator of the Grimm was that bony mask that hid that singular intelligence. Intelligence devoted to one and only skill, the killing of humans. The only thing that this could be was…

A Beowolf.

The show never did these beasts justice. Seeing them up close and personal brought true terror out of me. For the first time in my life (or relife), I was in real danger. I wasn't in the near-peaceful confines of human society. I was out in the wild, with civilization nowhere close by, and in front of something that up until a few moments ago, I thought didn't exist.

What the hell, game!? What kind of starting area is this!?

For a few seconds, we just stood there looking at each other. Almost as if we were sizing each other up, waiting for one of us to make the first move. Unfortunately, I have terrible luck.

PING!

Minor Skill Unlocked

Through extensive observation of someone or something for a prolonged period, a new skill has been created.

[Observe (Passive) Lvl: 1]

Allows the Gamer to see details about People or Grimm. Gives greater depth with higher levels. Limited in scope by the current level.

That slight sound from the game, caused a flinch, a movement in me so very small it was almost undetectable. Key word being almost. For that Beowolf, it was enough.

A howl echoed from its mouth as it braced itself to pounce on me.

Seeing all of this, I stated the only words I could think of. The very first words I would echo in a new world.

"Shit! Shit! SHIT! SHIT!"

Fight or flight kicked in as adrenaline rushed through my body and I definitely wasn't fighting, so I did the only other thing that me, an absolutely normal human could do. Right as it pounced, I burst off and ran…deeper into…the Grimm-filled…forest.

That blue screen still floated in front of me as I ran, clouding my vision, but I couldn't focus on it. I heard the whine of the Beowolf, as it banged its head right into the giant solid rock I was previously up against, but I couldn't focus on it. I heard the subsequent howl of the Beowolf as it called more of its buddies to kill this pesky weak unassuming human being, yet I couldn't focus on it!

What I could focus on, however, were the trees and foliage that raced beside me as I dodged tree limbs left and right, scrambled over fallen logs, and just generally hoped that under no circumstances should I fall. I ran the fastest I had ever run in my life, going at a speed not even I had thought I would be capable of. And yet, when it came down to it, a Beowolf would always be able to outrun a human.

I could sense more and more of them gaining on me, their howls echoing behind me. And yet I continued to run because there was nothing else I could do. One stop, one mistake, one wrong move, and I was dead again with a capital D. Not only would my death be a painful one since I'm sure getting mauled by giant oversized wolves is not fun, but I would be going right back into that endless void of silence. And in all honesty, I did not want to go back. Not when I just regained my life. And so I would do whatever it takes to keep living this life.

At least, that's what I told myself until I felt the sharp bony claw of a Beowolf cut right through my arm.

You know, contrary to popular belief, I've felt pain before. I've had the occasional toe-stubbing, splinter, stepping on a lego, etc. And yet nothing in my previous life could ever prepare me for the deep slicing of my flesh.

PING!

- 50 HP

While in the corner of my sight I saw the indication, the subsequent scream I let out was borderline inhuman. I grabbed my arm in pain, as I felt my blood, usually protected by my skin, decide to come out in full force. The want to stop, sit there, and just cry, went through my mind more than a few times as my vision began to blur with tears a little. But despite that, all of that, I maintained the wherewithal to keep running. To hold on a second longer, hoping that just maybe, I could find a way to live through this.

And luckily, it would be enough.

The Beowolves were near seconds away from finally getting ahold of their victim, me. But then, just as I passed the last line of trees, I ran face forward into the edge of a cliff. Still in immense pain with my vision blurred and my mind clouded, I didn't have the awareness to stop myself fast enough.

And so, on my first day of relife, I took an unfortunate dive down a cliff, right into the river below.

"Uh, Sis?"

I'm not worried. I promise you, I'm not worried. Not at all. I never worry. My mind is the epitome of calm and focused. Not a tinge of anxiety, stress, or worry (definitely not worrying) in sight.

"Sis?!"

I was definitely not speedwalking through a crowd of busy customers. Nor, was I forcefully pushing a few out of the way. My eyes were not scanning the crowd of faces as I moved passed them, and my breathing wasn't becoming more frantic at all.

"Claire! Claire!"

Oh yeah, and I definitely, absolutely, unquestionably, was not searching for anyone.

"CLAI-"

"I'm over here silly!"

Just passed the crowd stood my older sister Claire standing next to an older woman and her daughter. Seeing her, I quickly walked toward them, my heart remaining in the stasis of calm it was before.

"I'm so sorry for my brother here, he gets a little worried when I'm gone." Claire smiles apologetically at the woman.

"I wasn't worried! You just ran off, for no reason I might add." I cross my arms as I glare at her.

She rolls her eyes a little at my statement before turning toward the little girl clinging to her mother. "Now remember, you shouldn't run off from your mother. Stay close to her when you're out in a store."

The little girl nods happily as she proceeds to suck on the lollipop, I presume my sister gave her.

The older woman wrapped Claire in a hug, "I can't thank you enough for finding my daughter, I was so worried I'd lost her."

Claire returned the hug, "Hey no thanks needed, I'm just glad I could help."

"Ah but-"

"Nope, nada, non, just think of it as another rescue from the one and only Magical Girl Claaaaiiirree Weaver!" She strikes a heroic pose just as she finishes.

I visibly cringe at hearing my sister's name for herself. I really regret getting her into anime.

The older woman stares confusedly, "Magical Girl?"

"It's a thing, don't worry about it. She's glad she could help, have a nice day!" I quickly chimed in before grabbing my sister's arm and racing away.

"Wait! I didn't say my slogan."

I keep walking, "No one cares, let's go!"

I began making my way toward the exit hoping to salvage our reputation with a quick escape.

"You're such a party pooper, Curt." She gripes at me as she rips her arm out of my grasp.

I turn toward her, "Well someone has to be the sensible one around here."

"Ah sensible, right? Like how you were yelling my name in the store. 'Claire!' 'Claire!' 'Where did you go dear sister o' mine!'." She mocks.

"I wasn't yelling, I was just saying your name, plus you ran off for no reason. One minute you were behind me and the next you were off on another one of your adventures."

"Aww, I understand you were so worried about your dear older sister you couldn't live a minute without me-"

"I wasn't worried."

"It's alright dear little brother, your older sister will be here to always protect you or my name isn't Magical Girl Claire We-."

"Ok, ok, you had your fun, can we go now, the people here are giving us weird looks," I begged as I pointed out the blatant looks of confusion from some of the customers nearby.

A small sigh escapes her lips, "Fine fine. Just wanted to have some ole fun."

"You can have your fun later."

We made our way toward the exit stepping out into the air. Just as we exited a light rain began with the gray clouds really bringing out a somber feeling. Things were mostly fine until I felt a distinct shift in the air. Curiously I looked around before turning toward my sister, her previous happy blissful mood replaced by a sadder look.

"Um, is everything alright sis?" I asked, a tinge of worry in my voice. She looked down briefly before turning toward me the sadness now more apparent in her eyes than ever.

"I'm okay Curt, I'm just gonna miss times like these you know." We kept walking until we reached the edge of the sidewalk.

"What are you talking about? You'll probably just mess with me again later like you always do." I look at her the unsureness creeping its way into my voice.

As we took out first steps onto the crosswalk, she looked at me more closely. "You and I both know that isn't going to happen." She stated matter-of-factly.

Once again I look at her confusingly, "I love you sis but you know you're not making any-"

Before I even finished my statement, I heard an extremely loud honk ring out from the side of us. We both quickly turned to see a massive truck racing toward us, unhalting, unimpeded. Instinct kicked in and I immediately tried to get out of the way but was stopped by a grab at my arm. I turned toward the culprit.

Looking down at the hand grasped to my arm I said, "Sis, we gotta move."

She sighed in that tone as if something was obvious. "That's not what's going to happen today, Curt."

I look at her worried, unsure, but more importantly shocked. "Claire! Stop playing around, we need to-"

A more intense look crossed her face before she firmly said, "Curt! That's… not…. what… happens."

As she says that, the memories rush through me. Intense fear, regret, anger, and sadness flow through me and I close my eyes and look down, some tears begin to free themselves. "Sis, it doesn't have to end this way. We can just go and-"

"I'm sorry, but we can't."

"WE CAN if you'd just let me-"

"You as well as I, know that we can't. No matter how much we want to."

I turn toward her pleadingly, "Please! P-please don't leave me, Claire! I-I can't do any of this without you. I won't be able to continue. I need you!"

"You don't need me, little brother. You can keep going."

Tears begin to flow as I crumple into her arms, clutching onto her with all my life. "Why! Why choose me, you could've saved yourself!"

She squeezed me tightly back, "You know why Curt. I'm a Magical Girl remember, I'm supposed to protect little brothers like you from danger."

"B-but Why can't I protect you for once." I stammer out.

"Because silly, you know I wouldn't let you. Not if it meant losing you. It's not your job to do that for me, you're MY little brother." As she said that she nuzzled her face closer into my neck. "But I really am so so sorry to leave you like this Curt, I love you you know. But we're out of time now."

The honk of the truck brought everything back to the moment, the realization that it was too close now, hit me immediately. She brought her mouth closer to my ear, a tiny whisper escaping her lips, "Dear little brother of mine, I have one final favor from your Magical Girl Older Sister Claire Weaver."

She slightly paused, almost hesitating, before she finally whispered, "Please, whatever happens, Curt. Please live… for me."

Just as the words became known she forcefully pushed me out of the way narrowly missing the truck as it slammed into her body, that saddened look on her face now gone, and an ever-present warm comforting positive smile replacing it.

The sounds and screams from the truck running over her at full speed would lie deep in my brain forever. And the sight of the remains of the girl I trusted. The girl I relied upon. The girl who had saved me. The one girl, my only sister, who I loved more than the world itself. Would leave me with only one thought.

"I'm sorry."

PING!

Minor Skill Unlocked

For resting for a period greater than four hours, a new skill has been created.

[Short Rest (Passive) Lvl: MAX]

Allows the Gamer to regain half of their max health upon sleeping for more than four hours. Cannot be leveled up beyond its current level.

Luck.

That's the only word to describe my aliveness right now. Whether it was the luck of the Irish (even though I'm not Irish), Lady Luck smiling down upon me, or some kind of guardian angel deciding to finally do their job, I jumped off a cliff straight into racing water and somehow survived to live the tale. I'd honestly be ecstatic if it wasn't for the fact that my continued survival wasn't guaranteed.

And of course, my arm.

I don't know about you, but having a bone claw slice deeply into the skin of your arm isn't exactly a fun time. Blood had stopped pouring out from the wound but my arm now looked mangled though somewhat healed thanks to my new skill and the pain was more dulled.

Speaking of skill, considering my arm shouldn't have been healed so quickly, this does confirm I'm in a game. Whether great or terrible remains to be seen, though I'm leaning toward the latter.

Groaning from the pain, I reach up and tap on the red "X" on the floating blue screen to clear it. I slowly sit up to get a lay of the land. I was currently on a muddy sandy beach with the rushing river flowing in front of me. Behind me stood the dark forest hiding the oversized enemies within and the sun was slowly inching to sunset.

Before I can really think, a sudden wave of nausea from the trip hits me and I begin to puke out my guts.

God this fucking sucks! I feel so fucking sick right now.

And yet I knew I had to keep going. I was a ball of negative emotions right now so even if I stayed here and just rested I'd probably be sniffed out by the Beowolves or other Grimm. If I just found civilization I'd be home-free. But I got a distinct feeling that this game wasn't going to make it that easy to find.

That very thought made everything sound so ludicrous, to be honest. The idea that this was all some game, created by some sick developers to test people or whatever, is insane, and yet it's all too real. My arm is the very definition of it being all too real.

With that thought, I forced myself up and stumbled away from my puke before turning toward the forest. Maybe this was a dumb decision, maybe I should just stay, or maybe I should go. I have no idea, but all I know is that at the moment I am being hunted and I don't want to be surrounded by that silence again.

So I'll just find a way to survive, whatever that takes, I guess.

I stepped passed the tree line and continued my way forward.

Every step was a pain. I could feel the creaking of my bones and the begging from my body to just stop and rest some more. But I couldn't. I needed to get out of here as quickly as possible.

My paranoia was through the roof, every sound sent a chill through my body, and my heart was racing. And yet I kept moving forward.

Nightfall began to approach and yet there was no end in sight. Behind every tree, another stood waiting. Every patch of grass led to more patches of grass. It was all a blur of green, green, green.

More nausea hit and I once again let out my guts. It was during this moment that I heard a step. I quickly turned around, fear and trepidation ever present. I saw the thick foliage shake as if something was hidden within it. I slowly began taking steps backward, as it continued to shake.

One shake. One step.

Another shake. Another step.

This process was repeated until I found myself slightly behind a tree, ready to bolt if need be. Then all of a sudden, out from the grass, came a… rabbit. A small thing with white fur.

At the sight of it, my heart rate plummeted but more importantly, I just couldn't take it anymore.

A full throaty laugh echoed from me, "hahahaHaHaHAHAHA! OH MY GOD! I'M SO ON FUCKING EDGE!"

The rabbit ignored me and continued to feast on some grass. As I just continued to laugh. I brought my hands to my face and continued to laugh. Just laughing and more laughing and even more laughing. The ridiculousness of the situation just hammered itself into my brain. Giant man-eating wolves were chasing me and this little rabbit somehow resides in the same forest as these things.

"Hahahaha! Jesus fucking christ, hahaha, I'm so exhausted!" I continue to laugh as some tears join the fun too until I couldn't laugh anymore. Until my mouth just refused to perform the motion any longer.

I finally sigh in sadness forcing back the tears before turning away from the rabbit and looking at the sky. The sun was close to dipping below the horizon, I was running out of time. I turned back to look toward the rabbit and walked a little closer to it.

"Well little bunny, it'll be night soon. Do you think maybe you and I could buddy up for the night? It'd really help me out if you did." I said looking toward the rabbit. The rabbit continued to ignore me as it continued its meal.

"Oh come on, you don't want to sleep with little ole me. I'm a great cuddler you know." I put my hands on my knees to lean a little. "I'll even give you the left side of the bed. That's the best side you know."

The rabbit looked up from its meal and turned toward me and gave me questioning look. Then it raced off into the grass.

I quickly go to chase, "Hey wait-"

Just as I take a step, out from the foliage, came a Beowolf.

Not just any Beowolf. No, no, this Beowolf was much much larger and sturdier than its counterparts. Its bone joints were much thicker and pointed and the eyes, forget regular Beowolf eyes, these eyes were the literal definition of pure evil. I could feel the intent to kill, and it wasn't a pleasant feeling. The Grimm slowly rose to its full height and let out a massive howl of anger. As if my very presence somehow presented a challenge to it.

Yet as it howled something peculiar happened.

Alpha Beowolf

HP: 4000/4000

Level: 7

A small indicator floated about its head. At the sight of its health points, I panicked, though I didn't know if that was high or low, but probably high since it was an ALPHA BEOWOLF!

Before I could even process that thought the Beowolf pounces but I instinctively dive to the side. As I do, it swipes at me, the claw slightly missing my feet. I scramble my way to my feet, stumble away, and begin running into the trees, already tired and dehydrated, I didn't get far before it came from behind me and slapped me into a tree.

PING!

- 100 HP

"AHHHH!" I yell at the extreme pain of getting slammed into a goddamn fucking tree.

PING!

Minor Skill Unlocked

Through intense endurement of a great amount of pain in a short period of time, a new skill has been created.

[Endurance (Passive) Lvl: 1]

Allows the Gamer to decrease the level of damage received and the durability of the body is increased. Attack damage is decreased by… 1%.

"Fuck you, SHUT UP!" I yell at the sight of the screen now blocking my vision as an Alpha Beowolf stood in front of me. It quickly went to bite my head off and in panic, I went to block the bite with my uninjured arm. I felt the sharp pointed teeth of the wolf sink deep into the skin. I could feel the bone beginning to crack.

PING!

- 140 HP

Pain blossomed through my arm as I let out another scream. I quickly began slamming my other arm at the bone plate of the wolf, despite its injury, trying to get it to let go as tears clouded my vision. My body, already on its last legs, was ready to give out. I quickly began to grasp for anything I could use to free myself. My hands shaking wildly, quickly snagged a mid-sized stick from the tree. And as it lifted me into the air, my arms still in its mouth. I jabbed the stick right into the pure evil eyes of the alpha, causing it to screech in pain.

Subsequently, my battered arm was freed as it tried to shake and grab the stick out of its eye. I quickly dismissed the skill popup before running deeper into the forest. I could hear more and more howls coming from the distance indicating I was going to have company. I could barely think, my breath was frantic, and my body was ready to give out.

I was not going to outrun Beowolves. I needed to think of something.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

My mind as foggy as ever came up with the only plan it could think of. I looked at the trees, and without hesitation quickly raced toward one. I dragged my nearly destroyed injured body up the tree despite the immense amount of pain, climbing trees wasn't even my specialty, just adrenaline and the human desire to survive came to me. The very idea of returning to the silence, however comforting it may have seemed, fueled my desire to hold on a second longer and live to see another day.

As I made it to a cross point of the branches I sat myself up in the tree and hid behind the big leaves. Immediately the Alpha Beowolf burst passed the foliage the stick now removed from its eyes. Anger more apparent than ever. It looked toward my last location and crept forward.

Fear flew through me but I had to resist, I knew I wasn't going to live if I couldn't calm myself.

Think happy thoughts. Think happy thoughts. Happy thoughts. Happy thoughts.

The Alpha began looking around and about. As more and more Grimm finally came by and joined up in the search.

Rainbows, sunshine, skittles, ponies, love, happiness. Happy thoughts.

The search continued even more. All racing back and forth trying to find that lone pesky unassuming human that dared hide for his safety.

There are definitely not oversized man-eating wolves searching for me. Just peace and quiet. Happy thoughts.

My mind began slowly began to slip as tiredness, pain, sadness, and all of the above, overtook me.

Happy thoughts Curt. Happy thoughts.

The search kept going and I inched toward exhaustion. As the last vestiges of my mind finally began to flow away, I heard one final sound.

PING!

Minor Skill Unlocked

Through an intense suppression of your emotions, a new skill has been created.

[Calm (Passive) Lvl: 1]

Allows the Gamer to more easily suppress a range of emotions from detection from other entities within a nearby area.

Just seeing the game continue to do its magic, a slight giggle escaped my lips as darkness embraced me for the last time that day.

Happy thoughts.