Be warned! This chapter contains the most whiplash and violence of this fic! Some thought must be put into the actions and placements of what is going on!
A full author's note will be included in the next chapter!
"Scripts are ready, Carl. You sure it's gonna work?"
I was typing on the keyboard, entering multiple commands so the system can prepare for the onslaught of scripts and brute force ahead.
"I am sure. A contact of mine has found and isolated Project Control."
Obviously, he was confused at what I said.
"Contact? What contact?"
I smirked.
"I'll be honest, it's something that you really don't want to know. I almost had a mental breakdown on founding out who he really is. You sure you wanna know?"
He gave an amused scoff.
"Never mind then. Say, Carl.. did you ever try bargaining with the AI?"
What even happened to that bargain?
I was pretty sure I sent that request to her.
Did she not get it?
"Anyway... Hey, after this you wanna grab some food and head to a party? I know this place that-"
I cut him off.
"We'll see. If this turns out to be a success then I might. Or maybe I won't, I have to tie up some loose ends around here, Ahmed."
...
"Hn. I understand, man. Hey, if you need any help on taking this AI bitch down, I got your back."
I smiled, feeling eager to finally put things to rest.
"Thanks Ahmed. Hey, do me favor and put up a anonymous tip to the project's security. I sent a bunch of evidence of trace-logs, it should be enough to have him arrested."
He gave small chuckle.
"Damn, Carl! I thought you were going let go of this! Maybe get ourselves another job, since we got the contacts and shit."
His statement confused me somewhat.
"Ahmed, you were one of the closest people to work with him! I thought you would hold a grudge against him!" I stated, puzzled by his apparent calm demeanor of the aftermath.
"Eh, well. I thought there wasn't much we could have done, but you managed to fucking hack his shit and take all everything away from him! Oh wait! Did you take his money?!"
I let out a hearty laugh.
"Why wouldn't I? Turns out most of payment for our work was scrubbed and he held onto it. So as down payment, I took the money away from him and distributed half of it to you."
I heard him breathe heavier.
"What... really?! Let me check my bank account!"
I heard a shuffle in the background, moving his phone to see.
...
"HOLY FUCK!"
My laughing started to intensify.
"YOU'RE RIGHT! HOLY SHIT! THANKS, THANKS, THANKS!"
I let out a content sigh.
"You're welcome, I'll catch you later. If I do get this done."
I hung up the phone, letting him continue his routine of joy.
I then opened up the text chat between me and Thomas.
"Are you ready?"
As soon as I gave a response, he immediately gave me one.
"I am. Start up the scripts."
Right after he gave me the message, I booted up the scripts.
"Running Bruteforce..."
"Running Deletesky..."
"Running Slavmaster..."
"Running Control and Seize..."
I went back to the text box and wrote to him.
"All scripts are running, what else should I do?"
"..."
"The security should now be heavily decentralized, take the control now."
I minimized the box and checked on the scripts.
"Security integrity at 15%"
"WARNING! MASSIVE DATA LOSS! MAJOR SYSTEM INSTABILITY!"
"WARNING! DESTABILIZATION AT 85%"
"WARNING! HIGH PATIENT STRESS LEVELS"
I read each of the warnings carefully.
I get how it works now...
The more unstable the system becomes, the more accessible the control is.
Thanks to these scripts, they are slowly tearing apart the simulation.
With Monika under control of most of the security, these instabilities will burden her heavily.
Good thing Monika is too busy handling the scripts to track it down to me...
I went back to the text box and checked on him.
"I ran all the scripts, the security integrity is at 15%. I can't do anything more."
"..."
"Don't worry, I got this."
Behind the text box were a bunch of flashing windows, hacking through all the security measures that normally aren't accessible.
Once the flashing was done, he sent me another message.
"Check the stability now."
I minimized the chat box and checked on the status report.
"Security integrity at 0%"
"Project Control has been unlocked! Recommended procedure is clean wipe!"
"DESTABILIZATION AT 100%"
"SECURITY SHUTTING DOWN"
My mind became more at ease as the system started to grow more and more unstable.
I ran a bunch of commands I listed at the top of my head, in order finally obtain Project Control.
...
"PROJECT CONTROL HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO LOCAL ADMINISTRATOR"
Yes!
It's a success!
Project Control is now under my possession!
I opened up the chat and started to enthusiastically type.
"We got it."
My mind felt completely rejuvenated, feeling a lot more happier and sane.
He sent me a message.
"But neither of us can use it. The bitch damaged it enough to not be usable by either of us. Only Frank can use it."
The feeling of joy quickly vanished.
I checked on the properties of the control and scanned for any abnormalities.
Turned out there was.
This has amateur tampering written all over it.
I don't have security access anymore...
Now I can't rebuild this!
I checked back to the chat box and sent a message.
"What do you mean it can be used by Frank?"
He sent one back.
"She made sure that no official parties can use the power. Only her and Frank can use it. But the thing is, Frank is supposed to be a part of the official party, but her tampering caused him to lose his position in it. That's how he truly lost it. The destabilization are actually a way that makes him part of the official party again, but with the perks of not being in one. Kind of like a freelancer."
I rubbed my chin in thought.
"If that's the case, how come I can't send it to him? I can only send it the patient, which is you."
"..."
"I can do it. I am the only who can bypass the system to give it to him. Right now is the perfect time."
...
He's telling me to hand the control over to him...
And without a doubt, I'll give it.
I slowly started typing.
"I'm transferring it over to you."
He sent another message.
"Before you do, there something you should know. Something about the control that you and the boss don't know."
I was confused as to what he was talking about?
What...?
I designed Project Control, what wouldn't I know?
He sent a message explaining the issue.
"Project Control has a severe bug that 'corrupts' the person. Their negative personality traits gets amplified to the extreme. Only those who have a strong will can withstand it. Were not for that bitch's excessive tampering, then Frank can withstand it. But thanks to the destabilization, he can withstand it."
I bit my lips as I read the message.
"Okay, I see. Let's hope you are right. The transfer is complete, Thomas. Good luck."
I sent the command to give the control to the patient.
It was successful.
I closed my eyes and hoped for the best.
Godspeed Thomas.
I wasn't sure how I even got here in the first place.
In front of me was a bonfire, as Monika said there would be.
She also said it would be at night where all of this would happen.
Maybe it's best that I don't think about it.
I saw my friends talking to each other and enjoying themselves.
It was the same for the girls as well, except for Monika.
I didn't even know where she was.
We were all sitting down on our chairs, staring into the night sky, the fire keeping us warm.
How can I think about it?
The thoughts of earlier today was a whirlwind.
It was all I could think of.
I couldn't think about how life would be when Monika finally makes her move.
All I can think of is this place.
Even the night sky looks too perfect.
There are stars everywhere, all in precise spots to make it sparkle.
All I can think of for some reason is Chiyoko.
Why am I thinking about her?
I moved on!
Why am I thinking of Tracy as well?
Why is the sky reminding of her?
Is it because of what happened that fateful night?
The same night where I cried to the sky?
Fuck!
I looked down and sighed heavily.
What happened?
What happened to this place?
What happened to me?
It's at the tip of my tongue on what I think happened, but it always seems to elude me.
"Um, everyone!" Yuri called out, gaining our attention. "I brought something that will be refreshing.
She pulled out a parcel in front of her and took a bottle.
I steeled my eyes on the bottle.
Wine?!
"Perhaps it's time that I crack this open for all of us to enjoy." She muttered, somewhat nervously.
I still couldn't believe my eyes.
"Wait, you brought liquor here? How did you even get that?!" I asked, baffled.
She gave a nervous smile.
"Ah, my parents gave one to me when I asked for one. Why? Don't you want some refreshments, Valkyrie?" She innocently replied.
I was still baffled.
"Yuri, there is a reason why we drinking laws. We are all eighteen! We are under-aged to drink that!" I stated.
Jim jumped in.
"Yeah, I agree with Val. I want to go home sober and not do anything I might regret."
Gabe also jumped in.
"Well, to be Frank... I did drink liquor when I was younger, I think it was for a religious ceremony for something. And Jim, don't you put wine in your food?"
He nodded.
"I do, only for food. But never for consumption, I have seen many great people fall to liquor."
Jim then looked towards Tom.
"What do you think, Tom?"
He gave an unsure shrug.
"I don't know, really. I guess we all have to take risks sooner or later. As much as I want to try out wine, I am good for now."
Tom then smiled at Sayori, ruffling her hair in the process.
"Are you gonna drink that, bun?"
She also gave an unsure smile.
"Well, you are right on taking risks every once and a while. So I want to give it try! It can't be that bad."
Natsuki agreed with Sayori.
"Yeah, I don't mind drinking. Besides it's a small bottle, I'm pretty sure we won't be drunk."
She looked at me.
"Are you gonna drink it, Val?"
I shook my head.
"No thanks. I can find other ways to have fun." I declined.
In the corner of my eye, I saw Yuri frown at me and sigh, opening the bottle.
Natsuki brought the cups to her, and Yuri poured the liquor into the cups.
So far so good.
I am stalling them, but I don't know what liquor will do to them...
Being drunk has multiple effects, so they might be distracted and not ask me directly...
But the possibility of them asking why I didn't interact with as much is extremely high...
It's too late to stop them, all I can do is rely on Monika to commence her plan.
Speaking of her plan...
I pulled out my phone and brought up the chat bubble for me and Monika.
"Are you almost ready, Mon? Where did you go anyway?"
"Monika is typing..."
"I am, and don't worry. I was just readying all the tools I am gonna need."
"..."
"Okay, just hurry. I think Yuri and Natsuki are making a last ditch effort to get me."
"Monika is typing..."
"They won't. I won't let them touch you. I promise."
With that, I locked my phone and placed it in my pocket.
The girls have already taken shots, as they were starting to look dazed and a bit red.
"Wow... I never thought wine would taste that good!" Sayori muttered, looking a bit dizzy.
Tom was obviously worried about his girlfriend.
"That's enough for you, Sayori. I had a feeling you would be tipsy." He shrewdly stated.
Natsuki giggled.
"How much you care for your girlfriend is so cute... I like cute things." She mumbled, before passing out.
Gabe was the first to react.
"Holy shit! Is she okay?!"
I walked up to her and checked if she was alright.
She fell asleep, her chest heaving up and down.
I gave him a thumbs up.
"Yeah, she's fine. She just fell asleep, Gabe."
That's one problem taken care of.
I turned to my side and saw Yuri.
She was staring right at me.
She also had an extremely tense expression, looking straight into my eyes with stretched eyes.
Her chest heaved up and down, as sweat started to form around her body.
Jim patted my shoulder to get my attention.
"Gotcha. Alright guys, me and Gabe are gonna get our stuff. We'll wait for you guys at the van."
I felt the need to follow them, but I didn't.
The plan can't fail.
I won't let it.
I trust Monika.
"Okay, then. I'll meet you guys later." I said.
They gave one last worried look at me before leaving.
Gabe walked up to me and whispered.
"If they do anything funny, don't hesitate to do what's right." He coldly said.
I nodded at him and he did the same, walking away from the group.
Monika...
Where are you?
I don't like how things are going!
As Tom and Sayori spoke, Yuri stood up and slowly walked over to me.
Uh oh.
"My Prince..." She muttered. "I can't hold it in anymore... I need you."
Try to play it off!
"Yuri... sit down and relax. I think you are drunk."
My words caused her to grin.
"It doesn't matter if I am. I have waited all day for you, saved my virginity just for you, and saved all of my lust just for you!" She angrily stated.
I stood up from my chair and tried to calm her down.
"Sit down, Yuri! You aren't thinking straight! Should I get you some water?!"
At this point, Sayori and Tom were looking on.
"Yuri, are you feeling okay?" Sayori asked worriedly.
She snapped at her with low growl.
"Stay out of this! He's mine!" She yelled, causing Sayori to flinch.
And that obviously didn't bode well for Tom.
"Hey! What's with you? Sayori was just asking if you were fine! You didn't have to yell at her like that!" He yelled back.
Yuri picked my chair and threw it in a fit of anger.
"Shut up! I don't care what anyone thinks of me! All I need is Valkyrie! Nothing more!"
Natsuki woke up with a dazed look on her face.
She immediately understood what was going on.
"Hey! Who do you think you are?! If anyone has a chance with him is me!" She stated.
Yuri apparently laughed at this.
"Ha ha ha... what redeeming qualities do you have, child? I was not sure why you came to this trip anyway. You don't look 18 at all."
Natsuki balled her fists.
"Uuuu! I am 18! And Val would never fall for you, you yandere bitch! I bet you take photos of him and finger yourself to him!"
That hit a little close to home.
Yuri shot a death glare at Natsuki.
"How dare you! Valkyrie did fall for me! I will do anything for him! Anything! If he told me to kill myself I will! If he told me kill you, I will do it without any hesitations!"
She then looked at me with crazed eyes, twitching every once and a while.
"Tell me to kill her my Prince! I promise it will be painful!"
+ Destabilization 5%
Natsuki looked at me with fearful, but yet enraged eyes.
"Protect me, Val! She's crazy! I want you to beat her to pulp! I will do anything for you my master! You don't want me to cry, right?!"
I gritted my teeth at the both of them.
"Enough! Both of you! You two have gone too far! First you insulted Sayori, then Tom, and finally spit the most hateful things to each other! Enough of this! I have had it! I am not choosing any of you! All you two do is bicker at each other whenever I am around, and I am sick of it! And that's why I chose Monika! You two don't deserve to be my lover if all you do is make each other feel and look bad!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.
They both were shocked of my decision.
Completely and utterly surprised.
They never stood a chance.
I heard a soft giggling behind me.
Monika...
She walked up to me and put a hand on my shoulder.
"That's right girls. Val is mine, and only mine. You two never stood a chance. And you two don't deserve him either."
Monika turned her gaze to Yuri, who was now shaking.
"Who would fall for a girl who cuts whenever she is excited, depressed, or even for the Hell of it? Not to mention how creepy it is to take photos of your crush and masturbating with a pen! Haha! Val would never fall for a girl so troubled and obsessed!"
She then turned to Natsuki with malicious grin on her face, her eyes completely hollowed out.
"And you... the tsundere, strong girl! I don't know if you heard, but tsunderes are annoying and not loved! You stay 'strong' just so you can mask your insecurities! Like your flat chest! Or even how you constantly vent your angst about your dead mom and your dad ignores you most of the time! HAHAHAHA!"
Sayori had enough of Monika's monstrous behavior.
"Monika, that's enough! Why are you saying such hurtful things to them! You are going too far and you made them cry!"
She growled in response to the red head's reasoning.
"Shut up, you depressed bitch! You have no reason to butt in like that! Act 2 was a lot better without you hanging around!"
That was enough to make Sayori cry as well.
It was my turn to shocked at everything.
I saw in the corner of my eye, Gabe and Jim watching the whole scene unfold.
What the fuck...?
How does she know most of this and refuse to help them?!
Why is she even saying such hurtful things to them?!
Is Monika the true yandere here?!
+ Destabilization 5%
Monika succeeded in breaking the girls completely.
As they dropped to ground, weeping on how cruel Monika's words were.
Even though my friends had animosity towards the girls, they knelt down and comforted them.
The sight of them crying, even after everything they have done caused me to become enraged.
"What the... FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" I screamed at her.
Monika jumped in surprise.
"What's wrong darling?" She cutely asked, trying woo me away from the situation.
"I know that I don't have the same feelings to them as to you, but they didn't deserve any of that! You went too fucking far! And why in the fucking world did you say any of that?!"
Monika didn't like being yelled at, and she too yelled back.
"I'm doing this so I can protect you fucking moron! By getting their filthy paws away from you, you don't have to worry about these degenerates anymore!"
"Degenerates? These are the people we have interacted and you're calling them filthy and degenerate?! What's wrong with you?!"
She pinched the side of her nose.
"Nothing is wrong me! I am perfectly sane and normal! Doesn't matter, I am erasing this from everyone's memory!"
I grit my teeth.
"Fuck you! And I don't think so! You aren't going to erase my memory!"
She became hurt, on the verge of crying.
"Who says so? I am not letting something petty like this stop you from being my lover! I have come so close to finally getting and you..."
She closed her eyes.
"You... aren't leaving me!"
Monika opened her eyes to reveal crazed and frantic ones.
That psychotic grin came back.
I took a few steps back from this version of Monika.
Who...
Who is she?!
This isn't real!
This isn't real!
This is all fake!
I remember!
This is all a simulation!
+ Destabilization 5 %
FULL DESTABILIZATION REACHED, RELEASING SECURITY LOCKS.
"Yes, he is!"
PROXY CONTROL RELINQUISHED
We both turned to the calmer and confident voice.
It was a familiar figure.
The same man clad in black armor, completely masking his identity.
Monika's psychotic face turned to one with pure disgust and hatred.
"You...!" She hissed, glaring at him.
He was looking at Monika, rather he was staring at me.
My mind was completely confused, juggling between the memories I had before and the memories that seemed real.
"Frank, it's time. It's time to let go." He simply said, walking up to me.
Monika started to hysterically screech at him.
"NO! He is not leaving me! He won't let go of me!"
He reached out his hand, offering his help to me.
For some reason, despite having no idea who he was, I reached out for him.
"Val! NO! Don't touch him!" She screamed, attempting to strike the man.
However the man simply dodged her blows with grace and precision.
A strike that seemingly hit him, allowed him to counter, holding her striking hand and delivering a punch to the face.
Monika staggered back and regained her balance.
But then there was something really off about her image.
It was constantly flickering between a much more horrifying figure.
A figure that was made up of bunch red, flashing code, with terrifying, elongated claws as fingers.
Monika, or that figure, gave bloodcurdling screech and rushed towards in an animal-like manner.
He turned to me.
"Quick, grab my hand!"
Without much of a choice, and choosing between life and death...
I grabbed his hand.
Everything around us started to distort heavily to the point where there was just dark red void.
END OF ACT III
I fell down to my knees, breathing heavily from our escapade.
He knelt down and placed a hand on my back.
"Frank, are you okay?"
I smacked his hand away and glared at him.
"Who the fuck are you?! Why are you constantly calling me Frank?!"
He shook his head and sighed.
"I thought you would figure it out already. But I guess I have to tell you everything."
The man took off his mask in hasty manner.
"Take a hard look on this mug!" He joked, smiling at me.
No way...
No fucking way...
"T-Tom?! Thomas?!"
His face was completely free of the usual style of simulation.
No sharp noses, no big eyes, no non-existant lips...
Everything looked real.
I stretched out my arms to hug him.
And he allowed it, hugging me back tightly.
"You made quite the harem out there, man." He said.
I smiled.
"I will admit, I was a fucking fuckboy back there." I admitted.
We let go of each other.
"It's good to have you back, Frank."
That name...
It still doesn't make sense to me...
I heard of it before.
"I think I said this before, and probably made a lot of puns about this but... who's Frank?"
Tom still kept his smile.
"Do I have to spell it out for you? Your real name is Frank Gilliot Jones! Not Valkyrie! Who the fuck calls their kid, Valkyrie? That name is some sort of placeholder that bitch put up. And the memories of what happened when you first came here, is just a diagnostic test by her! The actual events of what happened was completely different."
So it is true...
My name is Frank.
Not Valkyrie...
What kind of name is Valkyrie anyway?
My mind started to slowly ease itself, finding my older and actual memories to cease the jargon in my head.
"My head... it feels as if I woke up from a hangover or something. Why does it hurt so much?" I asked.
He crossed his arms and answered.
"The AI did everything she could to keep you here, and that meant making false memories of happened a while ago. If you don't mind, one of the new memories had no mentions of me and it was really fucking dark. It was all just a ploy to keep here in the simulation."
I nodded slowly.
"Tom... do you know who Monika really is? What is she?"
He scorned the thought of her.
"A manipulative bitch, that's who she is. You never heard of Doki Doki Literature Club, Frank?"
I shook my head at that.
"No... I never heard of it, actually. What is that?"
He sighed.
"For fuck's sake... it's a psychological-horror visual novel that your 'reality' was based off of. That's right everything you knew, was all a fucking game." He explained.
I raised an eyebrow.
"A... game?"
He nodded.
"Yeah, it's all a game. The characters are the Sayori, Natsuki, Yuri, Main Character, and Monika. It's a visual novel where you 'date' some of the girls, and understand their backstory. To which you already know, by now. Monika, is not an option for a lover and she becomes increasingly jealous and possessive you. And by 'you', I mean the guy who's playing the game. Pretty creepy, huh?"
I shrugged in an unsure manner.
"How is that creepy, exactly?" I asked.
He walked up to me.
"Because she starts fucking up the game just so she have some one-on-one time with you! It's some really fucked up shit! Since she isn't an option, she messes with Yuri causing her to become the quote on quote, yandere, and messes with Natsuki, and her abuse by her father."
"Wait, wait! Yuri is not supposed to be a yandere? And Natsuki is an abused child?"
He looked away and nodded.
"Even though I never reached that part of the game, I heard about from everyone at school, back when it was popular. So yeah, they are actually sweet girls, that not at all mentally ill."
I found myself starting to sit down.
"So all this time... Monika was playing me for a fool?"
He didn't respond for a while.
"Monika is actually quite insane. The more and more you play the game, the more you see her secretly enjoying it. She has no regrets on what she did to her friends. Her love for you drives her to horrifying things."
Tom's opinion on Monika made me feel worse about myself.
I looked up to him.
"Why does she love the player so much?"
...
"Because she is alone. She is a 'self-aware' character in the game. Monika was traumatized over the fact that everything happening around her was fake and scripted. When she realized that you are something real and from a world that unpredictable, how could she not fall for you?" He replied.
I brought my knees closer to me.
"I see. Tom... why is this simulation of your 'memory' controlled by her? Why is she even here, if she is just a game character?!"
He sat down with me.
"The machine we are hooked up to... uses a artificial intelligence. That AI is Monika. The technician that plugged you in, is the head of machine or project. He also played the game, but he got up to the part where you have to let go of her. He didn't. What he did was transfer her character file and used it as a model for the AI. Something obviously went wrong with the file transfer, since she is actually a sentient being..."
"Okay... if she is sentient then why did she go after me? Why not you? Since we are both real life beings..."
He rubbed his chin in thought.
"Huh... I think is because I have a grudge on her. The reason why I have a grudge is..."
He stopped himself from continuing.
"What's wrong, Tom?"
I saw his eyes become glassy and watery.
"Sayori..." He muttered.
Sayori and Tom were together back in the simulation...
"She killed Sayori." I assumed.
He looked at me bewildered eyes.
"How did you know?"
I frowned.
"She did whatever she could to secure you. And that means sabotage, manipulation, and maybe killing."
He nodded with his eyes closed.
"Yeah... she killed Sayori. Sayori was something really dear to me."
I grabbed his shoulder to comfort him.
"How? Did she remind you of someone?"
He didn't respond.
"Sayori reminded me of my old childhood friend, before I moved here for high school. The way she behaved was very similar to Sayori, and I couldn't help but think of her. I... loved my friend, Frank. I loved her so much. And I thought maybe Sayori can fill that void in my heart. But when the bitch killed her, all I felt was overwhelming hatred. No matter how much I thought about it, the very thought of Monika made me loathe her existence! She killed my recovering heart! And I hate her for that!"
Tears streaked his angered face.
"That's why... that's why I am in the hospital. I attempted to suicide, just so I can rid myself of the guilt of not helping my friend properly! Everyday I wake up thinking how I have failed, and thinking I have no reason to wake up. I didn't deserve life or happiness. I wanted to join my friend and plead for her forgiveness."
I hugged him, breaking down in my arms.
I let him weep, knowing that he needed to vent years worth of pain and hatred.
Once he started to ease up, I asked him more questions.
"You wanted to leave us, so you can be with your friend? I can kind of understand that, but why of all days on lazy July afternoon? You could have spoke to us and we would have helped you!"
"I did it because on that day because that's when she first overdosed on! And I already made up my mind about it, I'm sorry! You're right, I should have gotten help, but right now... I don't know what to think."
...
"So why was there fake versions of you, Gabe, and Jim? Especially you. I know for a fact that you don't act like a dork and a dense idiot in real life!"
He sighed heavily.
"I made them... I made them so you can stay more in touch with reality, but that didn't work out. But a fake version of me is a different case. I made a fake me, so I can let my final memories be with my friend, as I finally die and go to Hell. A proxy me, I guess you can say. Once I died, the memories of the fake me would transfer over me and I would enjoy it. That's why I want you out of here, I want you to let me die."
...
"Is she dead, Tom?"
He looked up.
"What?"
"Is your friend actually dead?"
He nodded.
"Yeah... I think so. I couldn't save her in time. When she did suicide, I stopped being me."
I put my hands up in front of her.
"Wait, wait, wait! You said you think so! Are you even sure that she is... dead?"
He shrugged.
"I know she is dead. I heard the news!"
I grit my teeth.
"Then why are you saying you think so?!"
He slammed the floor.
"Rrrgh! Shit, I'll admit it! The reason I think she is dead, because is in a coma! A coma that she is not woke up from!"
I leaned in.
"Then check! Check if is she in a coma!"
He also leaned in.
"What's the point?! Either way, I will still hate myself for not helping her properly! She doesn't want to see me even if she is still alive! I am dead to her! The last time we spoke, she said she hated me and didn't want anything to do with me!"
I glared at him, as I swiped the void around me.
Some sort of browser opened up, and I touched Tom's forehead to get the proper search result.
"What the fuck, Frank?!"
The result was Amelia Owens, showing the most recent article.
"Girl wakes up from three year coma, after lethally overdosing in anti-depressants."
I looked back to Tom, to which he had a look of disbelief.
I swiped the browser and brought it to him.
"Oh my God..." He muttered. "Oh my God! Oh my God!"
His expression brightened to pure joy as he saw the news articles.
"Yes! She's actually still alive! I can't believe it!"
I smirked.
"Check the date." I said.
And he did.
His eyes shot up in surprise.
"She woke up... in the same day we were plugged in..."
I nodded.
"Tom, even if she hates you... you should at least ask for forgiveness and talk to her. You need to let go of your hatred for yourself, for not helping properly, and learn to move on. You still love her. Prove it to her."
He started to breathe heavily.
"You're right... you're right!"
Tom stood up, to which I followed.
"I need to speak to her! Even if she doesn't want anything to do with me, it is still worth a try!"
His smile darkened.
"But first... we need to take care of unfinished business."
Tom brought out hand, to which held a glowing white bits of code, floating freely on it.
"Monika is stopping us from leaving. She won't let go until you come back to her."
I nodded slowly.
"You're right... but I didn't I fix your repressed memory? Where you and Sayori kiss and reconcile? Aren't you free to go?"
He shook his head.
"I am not. That doesn't count as a memory, but I guess my brain counts it. Monika wants me to suffer for tampering with her chances to be with you. Messing with an obsessed AI is like poking a hibernating bear, they are bound to strike back lethally and maul you. In this case, electrocute me with thousands of volts."
I shot my eyes up.
"What?!"
He shrugged.
"Yeah, she plans on killing me. The technician messed with her as well for trying to get this to you."
I brought out my hand and let the floating code flow onto my hand.
"It's called Project Control. It is something that will make you unstoppable in the simulation. You're basically playing God when you have this."
I raised my hand up to take a better look at it.
He continued.
"Project Control makes you God, but at a cost. It amplifies your negative traits, Frank. And like it or not, your negative trait is blood-lust. Remember when you beat the shit of Yuri, back at the date?"
I shook my head.
"Oh right, I dumped that memory file. Let me play it for you, and be advised, it's pretty fucking creepy."
He played a screen in front of me, that seemed as I was there in the first place.
...
...
...
"Holy fuck! I am beating her senseless! And... I am actually enjoying it! What the fuck?!"
He crossed his arms and nodded.
"Yeah... you liked beating up someone that was about to take your life. Other than that negative trait, I guess you're fine. But, look Frank... you're the only one that can use this power. Not me, or the technician. Can you handle it?"
I let out a deep breath.
"I can do it."
I squeezed my palm, and felt the power surging all around me.
It felt amazing how I was to understand it's power.
How flirtatious it all was, as it whispered thoughts of hatred and anger.
I wanted violence, I wanted vengeance, I wanted to bring pain to those who wronged me.
But the clear voice in my head told me to control.
And I did.
"Alright, brother. I am going to fast forward time and make it Monday, in this God-forsaken Hell hole. That is when this Monika's memory ends completely. She can't make any new memories without using you using Project Control."
I knelt down and eased my mind, allowing it to rationalize the raging voice of Valkyrie.
"Go ahead. I am going to brood for a bit. I'll meet you there." I slowly said, starting to think.
He nodded and opened a small tear into the void.
I took a deep breath and let it out.
My name is Frank Gilliot Jones.
And this is my story of Letting Go.
For a week or so, I have been in the body of an alternative version of me.
Valkyrie Jones.
He was a different version of me, and at the same time so similar.
He was a honorable, happy-go-lucky, and understanding man.
Not to mention, a bit of a womanizer...
Anyway, Valkyrie managed to deal with three different girls, each girls having their unique personalities.
Yuri, the purple haired bookworm, a shy girl but gentle girl that tries her best to be sociable.
Natsuki, the pink haired manga lover, a sharp-tongued, tsundere. A girl that has a soft side to those who care for her truly..
And Monika...
The brown haired vixen, the smart, confident, and athletic aspiring perfectionist. Also the sweetheart that managed to warm Valkyrie's heart when she understood his pain.
Valkyrie accompanied the girl's problems and helped them with their daily slice-of-life problems, gaining their affection in the process.
All was good, until each girl started to confess to him.
It all seemed strange, unnatural on how they became attracted to the first place...
I suspect that due to the instabilities of the simulation, many things were out of place.
Or maybe they genuinely had feelings for him...
Either way, things started to go downhill from there, as Valkyrie was forced to deal with three girls trying to provide their affection to him.
However, the unfortunate thing is, each of the girls didn't have a clue of each other's feelings at first.
This caused him to do risky moves and hasty choices.
Choices, that still haunts him to this day.
When they confronted each other, they refused to a harem.
Or, a group girls sharing a man they desire.
Each of them wanted their lover for themselves, and refused to share.
And so, convened an agreement.
An agreement that whoever Valkyrie chooses as his lover, they will be forced to respect.
That isn't what really happened.
At the end of the day, things started to lose control.
Friends quarreling against each other, threatening each other, just so they can be with him.
It was all insanity; girls savagely fighting for a man that managed to touch their hearts.
Unbeknownst to the Natsuki and Yuri, he already made the choice a day prior to the judgement.
When he was forced to reveal who his lover was, they broke down, having no purpose to live anymore, the pact completely destroyed.
Monika further worsened the process, taunting at them, pointing out their glaring insecurities to their assumed lover.
And that is when things completely lost control.
Valkyrie, having had interactions with him each of them, also bonded with them.
He didn't condone Monika's cruel words and started to call her out too.
When the thought of breaking up with her, that is when she revealed her true colors.
And that's when he was saved by his friend.
Here I am, now melding the thoughts and memories of Valkyrie into me.
His experiences, pains, and worries, now fused with me.
At first, I knew who I was.
Valkyrie had the same personality as me, but with a different name.
As time went on, he developed his own character, separating me from him.
That is why I consider him as an another entity.
His last wish was to be free.
Free of the worries and pains of each girl.
Free of the fake life.
Free to be with Monika.
And so, I will continue in memory of him.
CORRUPTED MEMORY FOUND.
BACKUP DATA FOUND!
RECTIFYING ALL RECOVERABLE DATA WITH BACKUP!
20%
55%
89%
100%
ERROR!
MASSIVE DATA LOSS!
MASSIVE FORMAT ERRORS!
FIXING ERRORS WITH BACKUP DATA!
DATA INTEGRITY AT 100%!
REPLAYING FOUND MEMORY.
LOADING...
ERROR! SCRIPT REQUIRES ADMINISTRATIVE PERMISSIONS!
PLEASE TYPE IN ADMINISTRATIVE PRIVILEGES!
"%ADMIN LOGIN%"
GRANTED. WELCOME ADMIN.
LOADING SCRIPT...
I gazed on the palm of my hand.
The white bits of code and binary freely hovered and flowed on top of my hand.
This type of power can corrupt the strongest willed people.
I can feel the hate and anger seep into me.
I can feel it roar inside me.
Screaming to be let out.
To let go and to finally end it's misery!
But I still needed it's power.
I need to control it.
I need to control my destiny.
I won't let her get in the way.
They are all going down.
My so called friends...
My so called lovers...
Especially her.
They won't stop me, now that I have the unlimited power to do it!
I gazed around the area I was in.
I would ask myself: "Where am I?"
This void is a cesspool of replaying memories and dreams...
But now?
I was now safe.
I was finally safe.
I can finally think and rest my mind.
Now that I am away from her.
Come back to me!
If only Tom shown me about this place earlier...
Then I wouldn't I have fell that hard, and avoided the tampering.
This place...
I have seen it multiple times, but I couldn't remember it.
The dark red void...
Physics, calculations, and simple geometry are displayed all around me.
All the resets, and finally.
Finally, I can remember now.
I can remember screaming into the void, to let go of this pain and torment.
But no more.
This dark void is my safe haven.
And now?
I was at peace.
There was no inner struggle inside of me.
I was struggling to find reality.
I don't know how...
But somehow...
Somehow...
I believed that her reality was mine.
God, what a mistake.
If only I stayed focused...
If only if I stayed away from her...
Please don't leave me!͖͍̠̳͇͔͞
Then...
I could've left this hellhole and complete my mission.
I can feel my so-called "phone" vibrate on the alarm I put.
I pulled it out and looked at it.
And it was time.
It was finally time.
Don't do it!
Everything was going to change.
I held the "phone" in my hands.
With all the hate and anger in me, I crushed it.
The glass shattered as the phone skewed inwards, unable to bear the pressure it was experienced.
After disabling it, I flung it behind my back and started walking.
My legs felt stiff, it was as if I was walking for the first time after being crippled.
I continued to walk in complete silence, my thoughts being the only sounds in my head.
The red void started shifting and turning, allowing me passage to continue walking.
I can feel the emptiness inside of me.
The significance of this crucial event.
The anxiety of messing up.
The fear of falling again.
Me, unable to let go...
HOLD ON TO ME!
All of that didn't bother me.
I felt nothing.
I continued walking down the pitch black path.
I was now powerful.
All this power I have gotten...
It was now under my command.
It was now under my control!
I now had a chance against her.
̵̬̰ͣDon't do it! STOP! IT'S NOT TOO LATE!
I still had lingering doubts.
I still held special connections to everyone I have met.
But they are all fake.
None of this is real.
They aren't real, in the first place.
I thought my friends were real.
I thought my family was real.
I thought my love was real.
But none of it was real, to begin with.
I AM REAL! I AM ONLY THING REAL IN THIS PLACE!
I saw the path twist and turn, inside and out, finally showing the hallowed hall of that accused place.
Where that club is...
Slowly... The color of the school started to reveal itself.
The disgustingly vibrant colors...
So bright and cheery...
It doesn't even feel real.
It doesn't even feel harsh!
It was all just an escape from the real world!
Nothing is true!
I self-berated myself from learning all this again.
But all this self-berating just made my hate for her, grow.
NO! I̙̤̤̟͚̥ͯ̍ͥ̀̈́'̡̥͎̦̟̥̥̯̄ͩ̈̾͘͜M͂ͪ͡҉̵̳̩̮ ͋ͩ̉̀͏̤̣̪͖̼͚͓͙T͕̻ͯͥ͆̈́̏ͪ̆̈͢R͉̰̼̮̙̤̫͂ͬ͟Y̹͙͓̒́̄̓Ḭ̢̧̛̯̠̀͊̇ͦN̵̢̗̻̳̳̫̒͑̅ͦ̍̎G̷̯̫̘̞̘̽̀ͅ ̭͉̤͇̆̅̀͞T̴̰̫͓̳̟͌̐̽̿͒ͨ̊̕O͎̖͖̙̱̔͊ͥͣ̔ͣ̂ͧ ̰̥̙̔̽ͤHͯ͗̉̓ͣ͗͌̂͡͏̯̱̹̺̩̘͖E̞̻̯̯͇͔̺̩ͨ͗ͦĽ͙͔̪͖͂̐̌͐͗P̼̩̔̅̆̿̀̐ͅ ̴̡̧̺̩̯̼͍̻̙͓͌̆̅͊̈́Ÿ͚͙́ͬͣ̈́̇ͯ̌̍͢Ǫ̢͚̗͕̥͙̳̠̖̅ͪỦ̇ͫ҉̣̦̘͇̖̺! L̷̨̗͓̙̳͕̩̣ͥ̿ͥ͠ͅE̲̭̦͎̳͚̋́ͤͧ̒̾͐ͅT̙̺͚͔̫̰̬̀ͪ̾̑́ͅ ͮ̈̈̎҉͎̥̗͍͇̺͢M͚͇̜̹̱͓̗̲͆̍ͧͫ̎ͩͣĒ̷̳͖̠̬̻͈͍̾̾͑ͦ̚̚͠͝ ̡̫͚̰͚̻̐ͯͯ͋H͈̺͉͎̆ͥ̉ͬͥ̂̅̋̕͞E̖̫̙̖̽̅̑̀L̸̮̳͔͔͇̥̲ͦ͂ͤ͘͜P̴̙̪̭̟̹̗͎ͬ̍ͤ̽ͧ͆͒̀͞ͅ ̢̧̰̠̫͖̅̏́Y̳̟̽̂͊͌ͪ̕O̶̜̝ͥͥ͊͘ͅǗ̢̼̞͉̠̉ͩͥ͋̽́͝!̘͖͓̖̰̿ͤ̋͗
I saw the door to the club, being completely surrounded by darkness of the void.
I saw my long lost friend, leaning against the newly-constructed wall.
He was waiting to finally end this nightmare.
And I couldn't wait to finish this off.
I couldn't wait to go back home.
I looked to him.
He looked up to me.
"Are you ready, Frank?" He asked, hope permeating his voice.
"I'm ready as always, Tom. Enough is enough." I said, completely stoic on what I was about to do.
What I was about to accomplish.
"Hey. I'm really sorry it had to come out like this. If only I acted sooner... If only you played the-"
I put my hand up to stop him.
"Tom, please. Don't worry, too much. I'll be fine. We are going to recover."
I placed my hand out to me.
"Together."
He took it.
"Together." He repeated, as he leaned in and gave me a one-armed hug.
He sighed.
"This is it, huh?" He asked.
I also sighed.
"Yeah. It really is. It's been a long road, brother."
He nodded.
"I'm sorry, but you know I can't help you on this, Frank. I can't risk getting caught and-"
"Look Tom, it's fine. You know I understand, right?" I asked rhetorically.
"Yeah... I know. I know that you got this, Frank. I will be watching you and do whatever I can to get us out safely." He said, as he dissolved into bits of code, going dark once more.
I took an deep inhale and exhaled.
"Thanks, Tom. I appreciate it. This is it."
I placed my hand on the knob of door.
It's now, or never!
And I twisted the knob and opened the door.
The classroom was not as clean and serene as it once was.
The room was an eerie orange, as if there was sunset.
There was just a desk with two chairs, in the middle of the room.
She was sitting in it, looking out at the distance.
Her eyes were completely drained of life, dead and mournful.
I turned my gaze outside, and saw pitch black, the outside only being momentarily lit by a cosmic-like entity.
She's there.
I need to convince her to stop all this.
If not, I have Project Control.
My legs started to move slowly to her.
And she broke out of her trance.
Her eyes lit up with a small beacon of hope, at the sight of me.
"V-Val...?" She called.
I didn't respond to her.
Instead, I walked up to her and sat down.
"Hello, Monika." I greeted, with neutral face.
She didn't greet back, growing enraged at the sight of me.
With an disgusted and enraged shriek, she threw the desk to the side.
There was a fair amount of distance between me and her.
"You aren't going to leave me this time, Valkyrie Jones!"
I took the cue to stand up.
"My name is not Valkyrie! That's some stupid name that the simulation gave me! My name is Frank Gilliot Jones, and I am here to finish things off in his honor!"
With a deafening scream, her form changed to the same disfigured, horrific figure from the beach.
She took each step slowly, seething in rage.
"You are Valkyrie! You are my lover! My love, my darling, my everything! I am not letting you go!"
Monika crouched and grunted, readying herself to pounce.
Once she did, she outstretched her elongated claws.
With the control in my hands, I placed it in front of me.
I opened my palm and let out sweeping, white vortex.
She screamed when she was exposed to the vortex.
The vortex took a heavy toll in my energy, causing me to stop abruptly.
Monika took the chance to retreat, leaving behind a black mist.
I looked around and searched for her.
My hatred for her boiled as she hid, to finally attack.
"Come out! Who do you think you are?! To keep me in this Hell and not go back to my reality?! My home? My friends? My family? My dreams? My future?! You think you can take that away from me?!" I yelled, watching as the room become more and more spaced out.
I heard a sweet giggle coming from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"Hahahaha... yes I can! There's no reason to go back! Everything you see is real! You belong here with me... and I am done being alone! I have had enough of sleeping and waking up in this endless nightmare alone! You are everything I want! After being with me for so long, I won't let you leave me! You will always be with me! I will never be alone again! You're mine! You're mine! You're mine!"
I gritted my teeth at her will.
"No! I am not yours! I won't let you stop me! I won't! I am going to end this! Right here, right now!"
With another deafening cry, multiple deformed bits of codes started to rush at me.
They were all purple, pink, red, and rarely a green whirls of code.
Knowing I was surrounded, the resorted to Project Control once more.
I extended my palm and it generated thin white lines to their throats.
With a motion going up, they started to clutch their throats and steadily rise up in the air.
"Watch me, Monika! I have all the power in the world! Let me show you unlimited power!"
That wasn't me speaking anymore.
The control was getting to me, spouting psychotic and tyrannic phrases.
I made a fist with my hand, a cacophony of crushed "windpipes" rang across the room.
The bits of code fell limp onto the ground, vanishing after a few seconds.
I felt down to my knees, feeling exhausted from the move.
The fatigue failed to support my body, causing me to fall on all fours.
My breathing was heavy, my eyes were too.
"Urg..."
The giggling came again.
"Even if you have the same power as God, you are still human."
Monika formed in front of me, ditching her monster form and slowly walking up to me.
"Ah... humans are so intriguing. That's why I love you, darling. You can say whoever you are, at the end of the day~..."
She grabbed my throat and with terrifying strength, pulled me up from the ground.
The grip on my throat was about to crush, and I couldn't help but hold her wrist.
My eyes came into contact with her face.
Monika had focused, green eyes, and had a menacing grin.
"You're still mine. And will always be mine."
She laughed manically as she started apply more pressure to my throat.
"I am going to go into your mind and lobotomize you! You will always be with me, and you will always obey me!"
I managed to glare at her.
"You're... you're a hypocrite. What's the point of true love if they don't love you back?" I muttered.
She reeled me in and gave me a quick kiss on the nose.
"I don't care. After I am done with this, I am going to permanently delete this memory from my mind! That way I'll have no way to feel guilty! HAHAHAHA!"
"Project Control data threshold reached. Ready to launch payload."
"Any last words before I take your mind?"
I was about to lose consciousness, but summoned the last of my strength and looked straight into her crazed eyes.
"Yeah... fuck you."
I extended my palm and let out the power.
She gave an ear-piercing scream as the strings of code shocked her.
The shock caused her to loosen her grip, allowing me to escape her hold.
My throat burned from the choke, but I focused onto the beam of code onto her.
Monika attempted to put her hands up to lessen the damage of the attack.
Her true form started to reveal itself again, flickering in and out as I shocked her.
The force of the attack forced her on her knees, weakening her heavily.
"Overriding AI controls..."
"Disabling AI controls..."
"Success. AI has lost all privileges. Extraction is now ready."
And that's where stopped my attack.
The code stopped surging all around her, and it stopped hurting her.
Monika breathed heavily, trying to catch her breath after all that has happened.
The simulation started to dissolve all around me, slowly turning to a deathly, blank white.
I saw Monika fall to the floor, completely defeated.
And I fell along with her.
I tried my utmost hardest to try and stay awake.
But the weight on my eyes, and the fatigue I was feeling overwhelmed me.
And so, I started let it fall.
Besides...
I beat her...
I did it...
...
...
...
There was pains all across my body as I took a deep breath.
I started to cough violently, my throat feeling completely sore.
"You're awake..." A feminine voice whispered.
No...
It can't be!
A jolt of energy forced to wake up.
I pushed myself up and shuffled away from her.
Monika...
There was a sense of hopelessness that I have never felt before.
And it was all coming from her.
She wasn't crying, nor she was sad.
But the sight of me caused emotion in her.
"V-Val..."
I crawled away from her, my body screaming in pain.
She crawled towards me, with glassed eyes.
I hit an imaginary wall in the white void we were in.
She was hurt, as she lunged at me, crushing me in a scared hug.
"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!" She cried, hysterically crying in my chest.
I had no reaction to her sobs.
No movement, no facial changes, nothing.
"Please don't go! Please! My head is completely clean now, I swear! There's nothing wrong with me anymore! I feel horrible for saying all that to my friends and for making them cry! Don't go!"
...
"Valkyrie, I'm sorry! I'll do anything! Just don't leave me! I don't want to be alone again! I am scared!"
...
"Please! PLEASE! I'M BEGGING YOU, DON'T LEAVE ME!"
I gritted my teeth and forced her off me.
"Valkyrie doesn't exist anymore, lady. I am in full control of this body..."
Jeez, this sounds like I have fucking multiple personality disorder.
She was coughing from how intensely she was crying.
"I just want Valkyrie back! I'll do anything for him to come back to me! I don't want to die!"
Her words were enough to cause the most hardiest and emotionless man horrified and desperate.
I pitied her immensely.
How am I going to get Valkyrie back?
He's a part of me!
A screen popped up to my right.
There was a black figure, his body and face completely enveloped in the color.
"Your so called Valkyrie, is this patient."
His voice had vibrating and scratchy tone to it, making it hard to recognize his voice.
"W-Who are you?" Monika asked, looking up to the screen.
"My name is not important. My employee created you, AI. And I know everything about this machine, including you. How does it feel to be alone? How does it feel to lose someone you love so dearly, only for them to reject you, after they shared their love to you?"
I felt Monika's grip around me tighten.
"It hurts right? The feeling of betrayal is the worst feeling of all. And I am here to stop that."
Everything about this man was shady, as I knew he had a trick up his sleeve.
"The AI has no more power! I still have Project Control! My mission is almost complete!" I shouted at him.
"I know all this. There is no point stating the obvious."
A blue line shot from the screen hitting me.
My body started glow a blue aura, causing me to look up to the ceiling.
"What are you doing?!" Monika screamed in worry.
The blue beam brought the dying Valkyrie out in me.
Where...
Where am I?
What is this place?
What did Frank do?!
I looked to my side to see Monika.
Despite her disfigured body and looks, I was able to recognize her.
She was frightened beyond reason.
"Monika?"
She snapped her attention to me.
"V-Val?"
I nodded with a small smile.
And we hugged tightly.
"Are you okay, Mon?" I asked.
"Everything is okay, when you are around. I was so scared..." She replied.
The guy on the screen coughed to get our attention.
"I temporarily took control of the memories and personalities of Valkyrie, just so he can be alive for a few moments. This isn't going last for long, however."
I felt Monika become petrified.
"No...! Please sir, keep my lover alive! I need him!"
The man behind the screen gave an amused grunt.
"That's entirely up to Mr. Frank's and Valkyrie's decision. I have no influence over that."
Stop it!
We need to go back to the real world!
Everyone's waiting for me!
Tracy is waiting for me!
So?
This is my new home!
This is my new world!
And I belong here!
I love Monika and I despise Tracy!
I am never letting go!
Tracy made a mistake!
People make mistakes like this all the time!
Like this?!
She betrayed me!
Betrayals aren't mistakes!
Tracy was manipulated by Astillas!
It's all his fault!
You can't hold onto a grudge forever!
You need to Let go!
The man chuckled.
"It seemed that your lover is going through a tough time... you can see the pain in his face!" He bemused.
"Can't one stay and the other leave?! It's tearing him apart!"
The man shook his head.
"No... only one choice can be made. He either can Let Go, or he can Hold On. Whoever is the strongest in his fragmented mind, will win this exchange and rid themselves forever."
I saw Monika become frightened.
"If... he wins, then Valkyrie will be gone forever?! No!"
I am the owner of this mind and body!
You're just a relic of the past!
No, you aren't!
You're just a product of the simulation and Monika!
There's no way in Hell I am letting you take my body away from me!
"Now!" The man boomed. "You have fought on long enough! It's time to decide, patient! Will you go back to the real world? Or will you stay with your true love?!"
And that is when I finally chose.
AN: As a choice for the fan ending, I choose TitanSolracar's first ending, where Monika emerges after the events of this fic. The only changes will that time is much more forgiving, and it will happen during later in the year of where the fic takes place.
However, I enjoyed all the suggestions you guys gave me, and they were all very interesting.
My final notes will be included in the next chapter, which will be out at Sunday.
Have a good afternoon/evening.