I woke up to a floating white screen, blackness surrounding me with finality. I stared at it a few seconds.
GAME OVER
"What the fuck?" I hissed angrily. I looked around at the darkness that encompassed the area. "I died? And they're calling it 'game over?'" I had the urge to stomp my foot in anger, but quickly realized I had no body. Trying to look down at myself, I saw nothing. Not just anger, but dread creeped down my spine. My stomach dropped.
"How did I die?" I asked aloud while trying to play back what may have been my last moments.
It was hazy; I couldn't remember.
NEW GAME?
YES OR NO?
I paused, considering whether this was just a horrible and interactive dream or if this was my reality now. Did it expect me to press yes or no? What if I pressed no? Did I just move on? Hesitantly, because I was always a curious one, I pressed 'yes.'
CALCULATING…
I waited a minute as the screen flashed every three seconds.
WORLD SELECTED: TWILIGHT
"Um, no." I uttered, desperate. "I should get to decide, right? It's a game? Don't you decide which games you get to play?" I'd been a passive fan in the past, stopped enjoying the series for a few years and then jumped back on the back wagon, but that did not mean I wanted to be in the series! I didn't want vampires or wolves roaming the world. It was dangerous enough without them!
CHOOSE FAMILY/CLAN/PACK TO RESIDE FROM
I sighed in defeat. It didn't seem that anyone was listening to me. Or cared, for that matter. I looked at the list, curious despite myself what my choices were.
SWAN FAMILY
CULLEN CLAN
DENALI CLAN
VOLTURI CLAN
QUIELTE
RANDOM
I eyed the choices, shuddering from the thought of the Volturi clan. Yeah, no. I didn't want Aro in my head or the collecting people, eating people, etc. I wasn't interested in following royalty – or self-claimed royalty that thought they were above others like the Volturi did.
So I could choose to be human, vampire or perhaps turn into a wolf or live on the tribal lands? Either way, I'd probably run into supernatural. Great. Despite that, I wondered if I could pass under inspection by being a Swan – maybe I wouldn't be Bella, or maybe if I was Bella, I could shut Edward down immediately and there wouldn't be any problems. Starting to get happier with this outlook in mind, I decided to click on the Swan Family.
Immediately a name popped up along with information and stats. Huh. I have stats.
AMELIA RENEE SWAN
RACE: HUMAN
Age: 17
GIFT: ?
LEVEL 1
HP: 100/100
MP: 200/200
ST: 5
VIT: 5
INT: 5
WIS: 5
POINTS: 0
MONEY: 0
I, now named Amelia, studied my abysmal stats. "Wait, I'm seventeen…Does that mean the start of Twiligiht…and I'm not Bella? I have a gift?" Before I could express my confusion further, bright white consumed me and I closed my eyes reflexively.
I woke up, sitting upright and panting as I examined the room. The room was small, the bed spread and pillows were pink, the walls white and a plain dresser. This was definitely not my room. Starting to realize that I just might be in Twilight, or my dreaming has gotten weirder, I crawled off my bed to check the drawer. It had clothes that I liked, but didn't recognize at all. I moved over to my closet and opened it. I saw some cute dresses, but nothing I recognized.
"Mia!" I startled, jumping with her hand on the closet door handle. I didn't recognize the male voice, but it sounded like it may be a nickname for Amelia. I closed the door quickly and padded my way towards her door. I opened it to see a maybe middle-aged man with a mustache. It must be Charlie. "You're running late for your first day of school."
I tilted my head to the side as I whirled around looking for a clock to tell me what time it was.
"It's six-thirty. You need to start getting ready. You and Bella will be going to school together."
I did not find a clock, but turned back to Charlie and nodded, resigned to following through on this sudden change in life. Weird dream, or I was actually dead…but I wasn't going to focus on that. Just go through the day and hopefully wake up soon. If not, well, I didn't want to think about that.
QUEST ACTIVATED!
GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME:
REWARDS:
?
?
?
I blinked confusedly at the notification, but decided to disregard it for now. "Right." I agreed, grabbing clothes from my dresser and heading for the empty bathroom. I cleaned up quickly, seeing my favorite shampoo, conditioner and body soap and swore I could smell the intense and beautiful smells herself. That wouldn't be possible in a dream, right?
As I got out and wiped myself down, I looked at the mirror, studying my reflection. I looked very different from my blonde hair and blue eyes. My body shape was different as well. I now had brown hair, brown eyes and a bit of an hour glass figure. While it was different and I would have rather seen my own actual reflection, it was an interesting dream to show me what looked to be like a Kristen Stewart twin. Shaking my head and telling myself that no, I'm just dreaming.
I dressed up, marveling at the different, but likeable clothes. I am a bit of a jack of all trades, but had often found Hot Topic to be fun to shop at. I sported a black suspender skirt with red lace at the bottom and a red t-shirt. As I hopped down the stairs, I saw Bella. I shoved my combat boots – they had to be mine – on and Bella hurried over with the keys in her hand and a piece of toast in the other. As I was about to question Bella about the hurry – when did school start again? It felt like forever since I'd been in school – Bella shoved the toast in my mouth. I momentarily choked, but pulled it out and munched on it quietly as Bella grabbed my other hand and yanked me towards the door.
One would never think that Bella was strong, but she pulled with a tight grip and just as I grimaced and was about to voice my displeasure, Bella released her grip with a yelp, gripping her shoulder. That was curious, but at least Bella let go and I was free to get to the truck as well.
Bella went for the driver's door and I just went with it, knowing that I had no idea where to drive to get to the school.
I was thinking this dream was weird as Bella drove; I can actually smell things, feel things, and even feel pain. I didn't want to think about the alternative, though, because that meant I actually died.
The drive was short to the high school and I marveled that the dream was detailed. I could see every car, every building and all the trees in great detail. Another piece slid into place in my mind. The puzzle was becoming clearer, and that didn't comfort me.
Bella pulled into a parking spot, looking frazzled at starting a new school. I frowned and without realizing it, I grabbed Bella's hand before it moved from the clutch. "Hey," I smiled slightly at her. "It's going to be okay."
Bella nodded firmly albeit shakily at her once and twisted her hand out of mine. We exited the truck and headed for the main building.
QUEST COMPLETE!
MAKE IT TO SCHOOL ON TIME:
REWARDS:
5 STAT POINTS
TITLE GAINED!
TITLE: PERFECT ATTENDANCE
MONEY GAINED: $15
That was interesting. Five stat points? Like my stats from earlier? And I gain money from rewards? A small frown made it on my face, but I was distracted by the piercing feeling of being watched.
I felt eyes on myself, which wasn't surprising because we were new, but I still swiveled around to eye the parking lot. I made eye contact with a few students, but the students she jolted at were the Cullen-look alikes. They weren't looking Bella and I, but engaged in conversation by their cars. I stared for a moment longer, another puzzle piece slipping into place before Bella grabbed my hand and roughly dragged me along, although softer than earlier. It appeared Bella didn't want a repeat. My mind was seemingly blank as I continued to stare as I was dragged away.
Eventually I turned back towards the front and where Bella was leading me. We made it to the main office, picked up our schedules and parted ways to go to class, each with our own map in hand.
I was starting to freak out, however, knowing a mind reader was in the same place as I was.
GAMER MIND ACTIVATED
I blinked at the notification, mouth opening into a wide 'O' as my mind seemed to calm and I rationalized my thoughts. Huh. I hadn't felt this calm since taking anxiety medication. It felt almost floaty, but I was still rationalizing and in a clear mind.
I like this.
Despite the new trick I seemed to have learned, I knew that while my mind was calm, I needed to collect my thoughts and get things into order. I hurried over to a bathroom I saw on the map. It was empty and I thought quickly. I need to know more about this dream…or whatever this is. These skills, abilities…Is there a special word to say to see things?
I whispered quietly, "Um, help?"
I jerked back slightly at the sight of a notification:
HELP MENU
STATS
GAMER MIND
SKILLS
MONEY
I didn't have much time, but I decided upon gamer mind first. I pressed the floating option.
GAMER MIND: QUIETENS THE MIND WHEN DISTRESSED TO RATIONALIZE THOUGHTS AND PROTECTS THE MIND.
"Um, protect the mind? Can you explain that?" I hissed as quietly as I could. I didn't want a Cullen to be listening in.
PROTECTING THE MIND: NO ONE CAN REACH YOUR MIND THROUGH GIFTS.
That's helpful…if this is real. Which I'm starting to think it is. I pursed my lips tightly. "Skills?"
SKILLS ARE TRAITS THAT YOU CAN BUILD UP. USE UNSPENT POINTS TO BUILD YOURSELF UP.
I breathed a heavy sigh. That sounded complicated. "And money?"
MONEY CAN BE GAINED THROUGH QUESTS, JOBS OR DONATIONS.
I nodded at that, but wondered about the donations part. I waved my hand at the screen just as someone began to walk through the bathroom door and hoped the screen would disappear. It didn't at first, but the girl who walked in didn't seem to notice it. I was thankful for that, but concerned immensely at my mental health at this point if it wasn't a dream.
Murmuring quietly, I said, "Dismiss screen?" And it disappeared as I left the bathroom. I headed to her first class, winding down hallways and following the map closely. And then it hit me. I had PE! I'd been so distracted in my mind that I didn't notice where I was going: the schedule only said the destination was the gym. Shit.
Did I even bring uniform? I didn't think so. Did they provide one?
I walked into the gym, grimacing at the sight of the gym teacher and multiple students dressed up in their gym uniforms. Cringing as I walked, I approached the teacher. "Excuse me, Mr…" I looked at my schedule. "Mr. Clayton?"
He turned to me and gave me a small smile. "New student?" He asked, unsurprised.
"Yes, do you have a uniform I can borrow or do I need to go out a buy one?"
"We provide the uniforms," He said. "I'll sign your slip after class. Veronica!" He shouted, drawing over a young girl in a uniform with curly red hair. She hurried over and looked at me curiously. "Can you help our new student –" He looked at the slip I handed him. "Amelia Swan to get a uniform?"
The girl smiled widely. "Sure!" She chirped. I relaxed at her tone, a go-lucky and sweet voice that eased my tension greatly. We began to walk together towards the locker room. "I am so sorry." She said immediately when we were out of range of the teacher.
I drew back from her. "What? Why?"
"Because you have P.E. first thing in the morning! And we barely have time to shower!" She threw her hands in the air in despair. Despite myself, I giggled a little at her behavior. "I'm sorry, too. It must have been tough for you."
She nodded emphatically. "Oh, it was." She assured me. "All the girls and all the boys. And people don't even shower afterwards." She hissed the last part as if it were a curse.
I nodded knowingly at her. "That sounds terrible." It was fun and easy to focus on this discussion and not on my mind, situation and whatever the hell happened to me.
We continued on like that as she walked me to where the uniforms are found. "I'm not even going to ask your size. It's not polite." She said firmly. "You find the size you need and we'll go back together."
I appreciated her kindness and thoughtfulness.
Despite that, my fear and worry remained.
Whatever happened…if I don't wake up…I might have a freak out that even this Gamer's Mind cannot contain.
Okay…Trying something new? I haven't seen many of these in this fandom I don't know if it's going to be a popular theme at all. Despite that, I knew I had to write this down. I gave hints as to her gift as well, working while she's human. Let me know if this is something I should continue?