Author's Note: I want to thank Crystal for proof-reading the chapter before its initial release. I'm not sure how I really feel about this going through but whatever... can't go back now. Enjoy.
Chapter 4: The Will of the Forgotten
"In my heart
I grieve
For the artist I believe to be
Sent down from the sky
Only to be met with shadows
They're hidden in the meadows
Poisoning all of the rye
Maybe we can meet in the middle
Enough with the riddles
Treat THEM as they would TREAT you
They came to help your souls
Deliver a smile through the tolls
Isn't that what YOU would do?"
-Will Ryan/DAGames ("Heart of an Artist")
Several minutes pass and I completed the meal I had cooked for Monika and I. Home-cooked ramen with cooked veggies and I even took the time to fix steamed rice. I felt kind of proud of what I just made, even if I have managed to cook this in real life from time to time too... I think I'm just trying too hard to try and impress Monika. I prepare two plates for us and set them down at the kitchen table.
Josh: "Food's ready!"
Monika: "Alright! It smells good~ I didn't know you could cook."
Josh: "Well... there's still quite a bit you don't know about me. Besides, I had to learn to how to cook for my own well-being."
We both sit down at the table and start to eat a little bit of the food and as I expected, Monika started to ask about my real life in my reality.
Monika: "I see, so do you live by yourself in your reality?"
Josh: "Yeah... it's been that way for several years actu- Ah..."
My tongue slipped a bit too much there... I caught myself but only too late. Monika noticed what I said and she tilted her head to the side trying to understand what I meant.
Monika: "So... what do you mean by that...?"
I look away, feeling a little bit bad about myself... Do I tell her how old I really am or make up some lie...? No, I can't lie to Monika... Lying to Sayori about something she can't understand is one thing... Lying to Monika about myself... I don't think that plan would fly...
Josh: "I guess... I guess should just come up front with who I really am... Monika, in my reality, I'm really 24 years old. I have been out of school for a while and I have been living on my own for a couple of years now... I lived with my parents all throughout high school and most of my college life as well. I've gone through a lot of different things as I was going through life, depression and anxiety being two of the more formidable issues I have had to deal with... and my current body in this world... the simulation was designed to make the user 18 years old, no matter what their current age is in my world."
Well... that was mostly everything. I don't think I am going to tell her that I am technically being paid to only "test" the simulation, but... again I can't pass an opportunity to try and actually get to know Monika... even if I am just a digital body replica of my former self. Monika stopped eating her food and was staring at me trying to process everything I just said. I know I might have said a little too much about my personal backstory but... I want her to know the real me...
Josh: "I'm sorry if that was a lot all at once... I hope you can still accept me for who I am."
Monika: "Josh... It's okay... I promise..."
Something about the way she said that, made it seem like things weren't okay. Part of me thinks, that she may not be able to fully accept me who I am right away but she takes my hand surprisingly with a smile and looks into my eyes.
Monika: "It was a lot to take in at first... but I'm glad you managed to share that with me. It really makes me happy you trust me enough to tell me the truth about who you really are... Although, it did shock me to hear you're actually 6 years older than me... ahaha."
Josh: "I really hope that doesn't bother you... or ruin anything."
Monika was feeling a little awkward from that quick truth, but she smiles and actually laughs a little bit.
Monika: "Ahaha! You're silly, Josh. It honestly doesn't bother me at all. Like I said, I'm happy you were able to break past your anxiety and tell me all this. Besides... Age is really just a number when it comes to love. I mean... granted I have heard rumors that extreme age gaps are looked down upon and those relationships usually end pretty poorly."
Josh: "I've heard that too..."
Monika: "Well... if it makes you feel any better, I'm basically eternal. So, I'm unable to age or die... Forever 18 years old."
We both continue to eat our dinner to completion and we're a bit quiet for a moment but I actually laughed for a moment trying my best to cheer up the mood,
Josh: "Ahaha... you make it sound like it's a bad thing Monika. I would probably give anything to be 18 again and eternal as well... or at best 21 years old."
Monika: "Oh? Why's that?"
Josh: "Ahaha... well I'd be allowed to at least drink alcohol whenever."
Monika giggles at me for a moment but looks into my eyes with a serious tone of voice,
Monika: "Ahaha... no silly, I meant why would you want to be eternal like me? You wouldn't get to experience all that life has to offer as you change throughout the years."
Josh: "Oh... well... I kinda thought about... if it were possible, I could at least be with you forever..."
Monika and I are both turning a little pink from my remark but I think hearing that made her a little happier at least, but I was being honest as well. I know, living in this reality as an eternal being is probably impossible, even by today's standards of technology. Our technology hasn't even reached its peak potential. I imagine eventually people will figure out how to put our conscious brain into technology as data so we could live on in technology forever. But, until then I guess I can at least be fortunate I can spend time with Monika like this. After we finish eating dinner I take the dishes to the sink to clean and Monika comes up behind me and attempts to steal her dish away from me so she could clean it.
Josh: "What are you doing, Monika?"
Monika: "You're being too good to me, at least let me wash my dish so you don't have to do as much work~"
Josh: "You're my guest in this house, I'm fine with washing both of our dishes."
Monika was persistent and I felt like she knew how to work around my own stubbornness by being flirtatious. She grabbed one of my wrists to keep me from cleaning the dishes and kissed my cheek lightly, while whispering in my ear.
Monika: "Come on, please Joshy~ Just this once, okay? Besides, I don't mind helping you~"
God damnit Monika! I start getting flustered, with my face starting to burn up. I feel my anxiety telling me to enter my shy phase. I gave her the plate she ate from, feeling defeated, yet embarrassed, I decide to let her do what she wants for now. We both washed our dishes for a few minutes and then after drying them off we returned them to the cabinet where I originally retrieved them from and decided to sit down on the couch in the living room for the time being.
Josh: "So... umm, do you feel like watching a movie?"
Monika: "Sure!"
She seemed excited, probably because this was the first time she was ever sharing this kind of experience with someone. But I don't blame her for feeling that way. I'm kind of excited too being able to share this feeling with her as well. Monika cuddles up next to me as we started to watch an animated movie. Not even five minutes into the movie, Monika holds her hand out and spawns in a bowl of popcorn and starts to snack on it. The popcorn smells fresh and Monika holds up a piece of popcorn to my face. She's trying to be cute with me, so I can't help myself but smile.
Josh: "...Really?"
Monika: "Hehe~ Yes, of course! Now open up~"
I chuckle a bit and I open my mouth a bit so she could feed me. She giggles as well and we continue to watch the movie together. After about 45 minutes, the popcorn is gone and Monika gently lays her head on my shoulder and I think my anxiety has completely vanished. I'm starting to actually feel a bit more comfortable around her. It's never that easy for me to get this comfortable with just anyone but with enough time and patience I guess I managed to make it work.
As the movie progressed Monika held my hand as we were cuddled up next to each other. I turned my head to look into her beautiful emerald eyes and I smiled shyly and I could tell she was admiring my eyes as well. Her happiness seemed so real and genuine. It was so much more beautiful seeing her happiness in person rather than from the screen. For the time that this moment lasted, it was nice...
Towards the end of the movie, I didn't notice but Monika sneakily kissed my cheek and I felt myself blush a bit again and I could hear her giggling. I look over at her to see her also blushing but she returned to watching the movie again. As she regained focus to the movie I make a cheeky attempt to kiss her cheek back. However... she must have anticipated what I was trying to do and stopped me with her finger. She wasn't even looking at me! But she started to giggle and she turned toward me. She tried to ask me if I was copying her, but I decided to shut her up and take initiative for once...
Monika: "Are you trying to copy mmmph-?!"
She thought she was cleaver by reading my movements and stopping my attempt to kiss her cheek. So, I did the next best thing. Cut off her sentence by kissing her lips directly. We both turned red as we kissed for a good minute and I retracted myself back to my original position. I'm personally glad I have some self-control over myself or things might get a little over board. I keep my composure, but I'm still blushing profusely. I look over at Monika who is still unbearably red in the face. She covers her face in embarrassment for a moment, nearly speechless. I start to chuckle a bit to myself feeling victorious. Monika crosses her arms starting to pout a little, still blushing red.
Monika: "Joooosh... that's mean..."
I turn towards her with a smug look on my face.
Josh: "Heh... Oh really...? I just thought I beat you at your little game... you sneaky little—AAH!"
Monika jumps me and kisses my lips again, pinning me down on the couch for a moment. After breaking the kiss, she looks down at me; we're both blushing a lot more than normal and my anxiety starts to kick in... I was looking at her for a moment, but feeling more embarrassed I look away and she starts giggling.
Monika: "Oh, what was that now? I think I kicked your ass this time! hehe~ That's for cutting off my sentence earlier."
She kissed my cheek once and climbs off of me and allows me to get back up. I sit back up properly and think to myself for a moment. "Okay you got lucky to jump me... and I shouldn't be getting too carried away... we literally just met today. Come on Josh, remember: self-control..." I start to readjust my breathing so my anxiety can calm down and Monika lays her head on my shoulder again. I noticed by this time the movie had ended and the credits were rolling. I took a second to look over at the clock which stated it was 11:32pm. Time certainly flies by when you're having fun, right?
Monika: "Hehe, tonight was fun and I enjoyed the movie by the way... Even if we kind of missed the end of it... I'm just happy I got to spend time with you."
Josh: "Yeah... I really enjoyed it too. Today has been a good day."
Monika sighs but she giggled as well, "Ahaha, you could say that again!"
Josh: "...It really has been a good day..."
Monika smiled and looked at me sincerely, "You didn't have to literally say it again, silly~"
Josh: "I know, but I am being honest in my statement."
We sat cuddled next to each other and we started yawning. I imagine we'll have to sleep soon and I'm not sure what our arrangements will be for sleeping tonight... I'm not sure if it would be a wise decision to start sleeping together so soon. Especially since we literally just started seeing each other... I imagine Monika might see that concept the same way. I know she loves me, but it is a little too sudden to start skipping steps in a relationship. Better safe than sorry.
Monika: "Mmmm~ Well, as much as I'd love to stay here I think I'm going to call it a night and go home."
Josh: "Aww... so soon...? But I understand Monika."
Monika: "Hehe... I know you do. Let's not get too carried away with our relationship okay...? Maybe I'll stay over later once we bond a bit more, alright?"
Josh: "O-Okay..."
Wait... why did she say "I know you do...?" Did she actually read my thoughts again? Or is she just guessing that I understand the intent of building the relationship properly? Part of me kind of thought she might have wanted to stay here just for the sake of being with me... but even so... it's probably for the best for now. We both get up and stretch and Monika kisses my cheek and smiles.
Monika: "I hope we can do this again soon..."
Josh: "I hope so too."
She was smiling so sweetly, but the expression changed a bit suddenly and she looked into my eyes as her tone changed a little.
Monika: "Umm... by the way... is there... anything bothering you by chance...?
Josh: "Huh...? What do you mean?"
Monika: "Uh... it's... well never mind. I'm sure it's nothing."
Josh: "A-are you sure?"
Monika: "Yeah, don't worry. When... I read your thoughts earlier... I thought I heard something...unusual. I know you have anxiety and depression so it's not surprising to hear some of your darker thoughts, but... I thought there might have been a different consciousness speaking out. But as far as I remember I don't think that's even humanly possible... But just promise me if you have any depressing thoughts on your mind or if you're feeling unhappy, come see me okay...?
Josh: "Okay Monika, I promise."
Monika smiled and leaned up to kiss my lips once and started to walk towards the entrance where she left her shoes and slipped them on.
Monika: "So, I'll see you tomorrow, okay? Don't forget about your poem too~"
Josh: "Mhm, I'll see you tomorrow, with a poem ready to go."
Monika: "Good... good night, my love... hehe~"
Josh: "Good night, Monika... my love."
We both smiled and blushed as she opened the door but as soon as she walked out of my home she instantly vanished in a flash of unusual light. Did she... teleport? Well... why am I even asking these questions at this point? She's sentient, she can freeze time and even teleport into my home so I suppose I shouldn't even be remotely surprised... but I still am. I close the door since she's gone for the time being. I yawn again feeling exhausted from all that's been going on. I manage to drag my bag upstairs and I get changed into appropriate sleeping clothes. I was wearing my uniform for the whole evening and I hope it'll still look good when I wear it the next day too. Before I decide to go to sleep, I always do a routine meditation to clear my thoughts... to relax... and reflect on everything that has happened. However... I can't even get that tonight without more inner conflictions... Joxhaus will probably be the destroyer of this day if anything.
Joxhaus: "...Hey! Are you finally done fucking around? Are you finally satisfied in getting what you wanted?"
Josh: "I guess I can't have one good evening without you throwing the 'F' bombs around, can I? You're my Nobody, you're not even supposed to have emotions yet you're acting like you understand what anger is like."
Joxhaus scoffs at my remark and follows it with a heavy sigh still sounding cold, "You disgust me, you're putting your hopes, dreams and... 'love' into someone who doesn't even truly exist. Sure, she might be understanding and could replicate emotions to what you want... but she isn't real. You need to stop wasting your time with her."
I know what he's trying to do. He always tries to plague my mind with doubt but I'm also sick of him being the asshole side of me. My inner self-critic, and every bit of negativity I have in body. Part of me or not, I'm tired of this, and I'm already tired of him talking shit about Monika.
Josh: "Oh really...? you're saying she's basically the same as you? You are only a part of me but you don't truly exist either! I swear, it's like you can't even appreciate the little bits of happiness in life. Why can't you see this is good for us?"
Joxhaus: "Are you stupid? You always forget I am not the embodiment of your happiness. I. AM. MADE. FROM. YOUR. D̴͕͕̹͖̤̀A҉̛͇͎͇̪̳̘̗R̨̞͈͓̙̤͔̗ͅK͏̘̘̩͜ͅN̡͏͎̹̻͈̪͈̥͍E̵̝͙̰̩̣S̹̭͙̠̪͚͢͝S̩̗̩͔̯̗͜! Every bit of your depression, doubt, self-hatred, envy and rage. That darker half of your heart will always be a part of me."
Josh: "FUCK YOU AND THE DARKNESS PLAGUING MY MIND! I'm not letting you take away this chance at happiness!"
Out of my own anger and self-hatred I had to break my posture from mediation. As I predicted, Joxhaus ruined things again, but since the house is quiet I can still hear him speaking in my head.
Joxhaus: "You can't shut me out! Don't forget you have a job to do!"
Josh: "If you'd shut the hell up I could probably do it!"
Joxhaus: "Lies. You'd wait weeks to even think about doing it, unless I have to kick your ass to do it sooner!"
I take a deep breath to start drowning out this negativity. Some nights the depression can get really bad for me and Joxhaus was no better on evenings like tonight.
Joxhaus: "Fine, fucking be that way. I hope we end up dead in this simulation."
Josh: "… you always say that when things don't go your way."
I shake my head slowly and start writing notes on the desk next to the bed. I noticed that little holographic buttons appeared on the paper I was writing on. There were a few options listed here like "send document to an e-mail address", "edit document" and other various options. I hold my head with one hand as I write down a few things that were noticed today in the game. A lot of little "technical" things that I remember noticing such as the NPC's faces and the various programs that the simulation had to offer. Some of the settings and detailed movements did glitch out with a few minor bug issues but it didn't appear to affect the progression of the day or my overall experience. I even wrote down a few smaller documents for myself reminding me of my evening with Monika. As I was still writing down some of the notes from today I noticed the grey text box reappearing once again in the corner of my vision. Text appeared saying, "Starting routine data testing has been requested: Accept or Decline?"
Josh: "What the...?"
I immediately thought "decline" and the message went away for a moment but the text box was still in my vision. Honestly, I am aware some simulations do ask for "test subject, data analysis" from time to time when I get put in these test simulations but one like this? I don't understand... Maybe it has something to do with the warning at the beginning and they're just "required" to do a test just so they won't get sued later on? Who knows... but I wasn't really in the mood with fucking with that kind of test right now. I'm still very livid from my Nobody being an ass. I finished my notes and sent it to my default e-mail since I was given the option to, but afterward the text came up in my vision again... saying the same message, "Starting routine data testing has been requested: Accept or Decline?"
Josh: "Again...? Are you fucking kidding me? I said, no! Decline!"
At that moment, a sharp zapping pain ran through my head, it felt like part of that pain went through my eyeball as well.
Josh: "AGH! MOTHERFUCKER! What the hell!?"
My vision started fucking up pretty badly, my vision was blurred, everything started to get a little static-like, and the room itself seemed like it was getting darker, yet my lights weren't off. I swear I thought I could see dark mist fluttering around me... and that message came up again... but it was different, "Starting routine data testing has been requested: Accept?" I didn't even have a chance to answer since I was still feeling the pain and the sting from the electric shock that when through my head. The text typed in "accept" regardless of what I was thinking... and I could only read the text and I felt a tingling sensation wrap around my whole body.
"System test initialized,
Test subject: X͓̱̺̣͔͌ͧ̍ͦͩ̓̚͘V̹̭̫̯̦̋͛͗ͤ̓̋̚I̪̮̮͛͒̒͂̄
Name: Joshua X̵̳̺̠̻X̶̼̣̯͍X͠͏͔̱͉͈͎X̨̻̹̞̫̯͙͘X҉̨̯̠̖̝̳̭̲̹͝X̵̗͈̥̱͔̩̳͢X̡̖͎͓̹͜͝ͅͅX҉͕͉̯̞̰̳X̡̼X͎̰̙̦́
Ag̦̜͒̃ͬ̉e̢̲̳̦̞̺̭͚ͯ̓ͦͣͦͭ̽: 24
Gender: M̤̦̳̬̩̣͑̉͢
Date of B̷i͎̞̲͚̠̫̳͘r̭̺͠t̴̩͖̣h̠̲̘͔͍͞:̼̼͙̙̯̜̼ ͉́X̫̮̞̤̝͘X/XX/XXXX
Current physical status: Ṋ̦or̶̳̜̭͉m̲̤͈̪a͓͉̟̟͈̻͘l̸̳̖̫̖̭"
The text box starts running down a list of facts about me... but a lot of the text is fucked up and glitchy... My eyes are watering up and I look around to see the room glitching out and more dark mist covering my vision a bit more and well as surrounding my body. It felt like... it was sticking to my skin... the tingling sensation changed to a searing sensation... I felt like my skin started burning... it was intensifying slowly and the pain started growing all together... it came to a point when I literally fell to the ground in shambles.
Josh: "AAH...! AAAAAHH...! WHAT THE HELL... IS... HAPPENING TO ME...!?"
"C̛͙̫͍̼u̝̠͕r̯̟̣̲̟̮̩͘r̶̘̙e̢̩̰̱̫̗n̢͔͙̺͔t̥ mental statụ̜̮̺̺͉͉͞s̰̕:̲͓͍͚ ̤͎St͇͚̤͍ressed, (N̯̝̟̘ͪ̏e̫͇̣̯̹̥͒͂̑̿ͫ͛g͍̝͕͕͙̖̳͟a̟̺̝͎͛̉̒̑̔̅̾̀ͅtͯ̈̌̀̾̂̓ỉ̞̭̦̗̻̮̒ͤ͜v̴͖̞̼̰̞̞͔ͨ͂̎͆e͉͕̦̻͗̄̍ ̥̤̯̈͌͒ͮ͐̕3͕͆ͤ9̭̘̪̱̞̞͐̈̀ reading, initializing scan indicating s̺̯̝̤͈ͫō̮̬̹̯̬͙̔͋̉̒͆́u͉̳͚͉̯̺r͕̭̠͔̹̖̹ͬ̐̑̔͗̓̂c̸̈́̈́͋͌̒̽̚ë̷̼̲̱̹́̂ͧ̓͗̀ of problem...)
Scan complete: Issue has been detected. (Mandatory auto-fix initialized)"
After that everything went to static in my left eye and from what I was seeing in my right eye everything was going dark and all I could feel was the intensifying, feeling of my flesh burning from the dark mist. I started to scream out as loud as I could in hopes someone might hear. This pain was too much, I felt like my skin was going to melt off my body leaving only bone behind. On top of that feeling it felt like my skin was starting to get pulled off into a general direction. With all the energy I had left I could only manage one final ear-piercing scream, one that almost sounded like two coherent voices being stretched from the single voice.
Josh: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
From there... my vision, my thoughts, and my consciousness goes black. Everything is gone in the blink of an instant. My last remaining thought before I blacked out from the pain was how much burning my flesh was feeling... I felt like my skin was ripped off my body in that last moment; my whole body as I feel it now, feels sore, still stinging from pain and I feel like I'm lost in a void of darkness now... everything is silent but I hear a very faint buzzing noise in the distance. I'm not sure what it is... my senses are so far out of it right now it's hard to tell what it could be. Maybe it's the sound you hear after hearing something so loud it puts out your hearing, but your ears are ringing to try and recover? That's kind of what it sounds like... but I can't see anything.
I start to hear a beeping noise now... it's getting louder... the next thing I hear is an emergency ejection of my VR system... My headset flies off my head and I wake up in sheer panic. I'm hyperventilating, sweating and nearly on the brink of a heart-attack... but I'm alive.
Josh: "What... in the hell... Was that all about? That definitely wasn't supposed to happen."
I manage to get up and take a little bit of water to drink and I checked my heart rate... It was WAY too high. My blood pressure wasn't much better either so I had to take a few minutes to calm down and collect my thoughts. As I'm taking time to calm my heart rate down I look on my computer to find 3 important e-mails. The one I had sent myself from the simulation and the other two were from my unnamed commission. Both messages sent from a "Don't reply" e-mail. One was an issue regarding certain bugs that were found in the simulation from other testers and the second was a file for the simulation. A patch by the looks of it. I looked through the patch notes and this is mostly to take care of environmental glitches and unusual anomalies. Although what I just went through seemed like more than an anomaly. I checked my heart-rate once more.
Josh: "154... god damn... okay, something was definitely wrong with the system... I hope you're okay Monika..."
I start downloading this patch for the simulation and prepare the program once again...
Meanwhile... back in the simulation... minutes shortly after Josh passed out from the unknown system error, the door to his house is broken open, and Monika rushes in the house calling out for him. She slams the door and immediately rushes upstairs.
Monika: "JOSH! Where are you!? Are you okay?"
Monika was the only one who had heard his last pain steaking scream before disconnecting from the world. Upon heading upstairs, she noticed the door to his room was wide open but the lights were out. His room was dark and there were two figures in the room. There was a human like shadow sitting in the corner of the room in a chair, while Josh's body laid unconscious in front of his bed. Monika noticed all the little glitches deforming the room and she couldn't even go inside to see if Josh was okay. Josh's body currently didn't have a face; his face was covered in static. Since he was disconnected from the world at the moment, this is how the simulation presented him, however Monika couldn't see his face from how he was facing.
Monika: "Josh...? Please... answer me! Are you okay?"
?: "Please... keep it down... He can't hear you right now..."
Monika: "Wha...? Who are you!? What did you do to him!?"
?: "Calm down... I... didn't... do anything to him... in fact... I'm enduring as much pain as he is... or... was..."
Monika starts to tear up in anger and confusion. "No... he... he can't be..."
?: "Don't... start crying... He's... not dead... He'll be... back soon... he's just disconnected... from this world... at the moment..."
Monika's vision starts to focus a bit more and has noticed the shadow in the corner is really a person... he's seated in the corner, and black mist floats off of him. He's wearing a long black coat and his whole head and face is covered in a hood. He appeared to be injured judging on how he's speaking to her. Monika is still worried sick about Josh but she needs answers.
Monika: "Who... Who are you?"
The figure was silent for a moment but his hood moved upward to look towards Monika.
?: "I will introduce myself... when he comes back..."
(Back in Josh's reality and POV.)
The patch had finally been added into the computer and was installed into the system. As the patch was being integrated into the simulation, I checked all the files to make sure nothing was corrupted. I noticed a change in the character files...
Josh: "What's this?"
All the characters had stayed the same from "Sayori", to "Yuri", to "Natsuki" and "Monika", but two extra character files were added in. "Subject XVI Joshua" and "EC 39". I opened my file first and surprisingly it had a lot of my personal information that it listed when the game's initial test bugged out. But after that the rest was blank. I imagine it reads information processed by the test subject's brain. Permanent info is kept on the top while the empty space on the bottom serves as the space where my thought processes made from my brain and becomes translated into data. I don't see these very often but it's usually a kind of file that's meant for the system files... not character data. I backed out of that file and checked the other one called "EC 39". I'm guessing this is referring to the "mental status" number negative 39. I opened it but it was similar to all the other character files but there wasn't nearly as much letter code listed in this file...:
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
I could easily take the time to decode this but opted not to for now. The patch managed to finish downloading into the simulation, so hopefully that would fix some of the issues I experienced... and I hope I won't have that kind of painful experience ever again. But now I have to be extra careful going back... I guess Joxhaus was right after all. Not everything is as it seems in the simulation. But it seemed more apparent as an outside force... rather than something in the simulation... then again there's no way to tell for sure.
I managed to restart the simulation system after the patch installed and I slowly readied myself onto bed once more and placed the VR headset back in place. Anxiety was shooting through my mind right now... I personally hoped that I didn't fuck anything up with the simulation. I don't think I would be able to live with myself if I messed up all my progress with Monika... or worse yet ruining her life. As the simulation started up an "auto-save" system reload, I could immediately start feeling my body undergoing the searing pain again. But it's not terrible, it's tolerable. The pain is slowly going away. Everything is still black for a moment trying to wait on everything to reload again. But as I'm waking up... I hear a soft and familiar voice.
Monika: "...osh... ...ke... up..."
Josh: "Moni...ka?"
Monika: "Josh... wake up... please..."
I manage to open my eyes and to my surprise I see a teary-eyed Monika holding me on her lap. As I started I come to, she quickly embraced me with a hug and started crying.
Monika: "Josh... I was worried... you'd never come back."
Josh: "Monika... I'm okay now, I promise."
I held her close to me for a moment from her tearing up, but I hear another voice come up which made our moment a bit more, unsettling.
?: "Glad to see you're awake... and not dead."
Josh: "...huh?"
I looked over to see the figure in a black coat, his hood was covering his face but the voice was all too familiar.
?: "I suppose since now that you're back and awake I should formally introduce myself to your girlfriend before things get anymore awkward..."
Monika leans up to peer over at the hooded figure and he stood up to pull back his hood, revealing his face to us. It was like looking in a mirror for me... His hair, eyes and facial structure was the exact same as mine... but his eyes seemed much colder and darker. And there were very faint, yet distinct lines marking down his cheeks, they cut off in a diagonal towards the back of his jaw and end at the bottom of his face. He had an unusual smile for a moment which gave me a chill down my spine but there was no mistaking it... He has his own body now.
Joxhaus: "My name is Joxhaus, I am a part of Josh... in some sense I'm referred to as his 'Nobody'. It's nice to finally meet you both... in person."
Next Chapter: Gemini