~Candice~
I stepped inside and looked around. I hadn’t actually thought about guards, but so far I hadn’t seen anyone. Luck was on my side! I crept around and looked in different rooms, but not a soul was around. I moved to the second floor and opened up the first room. In it were a few dangerous looking spirits. One looked toward me and I turned and ran. I heard him yelling behind me and I turned a corner to a dead end, and all the doors were locked. I was pressed against the back wall as the two devilish beings came closer, but a stern voice stopped them in their tracks.
“Enough. She is a guest. Leave her.” I looked around them and saw Azar standing there with his arms crossed. Obediently, the spirits left quickly and I sighed in relief. “I apologize for their behavior. Welcome to my castle. This time under much better circumstances.” He bowed slightly, never taking his eyes off of me. “Come, follow me and we shall talk.” He turned and began walking. I followed at what felt like a safe distance, and it wasn’t too far off that he opened up a door and stood next to it. “After you.”
“Thanks…” I cautiously walked past him and into what was obviously his bedroom. My stomach dropped and I turned to him as he stepped inside and closed the door.
“No need to be frightened. I won’t lay a finger on you. That’s not my intention.” Azar said.
“So what is your intention? What is it Amora isn’t telling me?” I asked.
“You may not believe me, but I took everyone before, in order to help them.”
“Help them?! How?!” I exclaimed. “That doesn’t seem like the civilized thing to do.” Azar looked at me calmly.
“Have you forgotten this is a game?” He asked. I blinked.
“Well, not, not entirely…” I said. A couple knocks came at the door.
“Enter.” Azar ordered and some spirits entered.
“My lord, you summoned us?” One asked.
“Guard the entrances. He will be coming for sure.” Azar said.
“Yes sir.” They responded and then left.
“Now, as we were saying? Oh yes, now you know this is a game. And as you know, there have to be people to create the game right?” He asked me.
“Well of course. I know that, I’m not stupid. Even though this is intense virtual reality, its all code.” I said. He smiled and laughed a little.
“Is that what you think?” He said with a smirk. “You are wrong.”
“Excuse me? You are talking to a video game expert, concentration in otome.” I crossed my arms and there was a moment of silence.
“You see…Candice, this actually-” And the door burst open suddenly and there stood Snow.
“Snow!” I gasped.
“Those incompetent guards.” Azar sighed.
“Please…you expect a pathetic guard to be able to stop me?” Snow growled. Azar’s eyes began to glow and I started toward snow when Azar snatched my wrist and stopped me from moving. “Let her go.” Snow waved his hand gracefully and spikes of ice grew from the floor and stopped inches away from his throat. Then they suddenly exploded as Azar blinked.
“Stop.” Azar ordered. The shards of ice scattered all over the floor levitated and faced Azar.
“Let her go and give her back to me then.” Snow countered.
“You are a fool, you have been manipulated this entire time. Candice, you must trust me.”
“W-What?!” I exclaimed. I heard a shard wiz by and smash on the wall behind Azar.
“You’re lying.” Snow hissed.
“I wanted to do this the easy way. But, I suppose this is the only choice I have.” I was pulled closer to Azar as he reached for his boot and was locked in an iron grip in front him, facing out toward Snow and had a knife to my throat. “Try it again Snow and she will cease to exist.” With that, Snow stopped inching closer, but kept the shards up. “Snow, do you have feelings for Candice?”
“I wouldn’t be standing here if I didn’t.” Snow said without hesitation. My heart felt warm, and it would have been a wonderful moment had I not been less than an inch from death.
“Candice, do you have feelings for Snow?” Azar asked. I looked straight at Snow.
“Yes, of course I do.” I answered.
“What are you getting at Azar?” Snow asked. Azar’s eyes started to glow brighter and the ice shards fell to the floor with delicate clinks. Snow started to breath heavier, and heavier. I shifted my body a little, trying to struggle without getting myself hurt.
“Snow? Snow?!” Something was wrong, very wrong. The ice at our feet melted and I could see Snow couldn’t breathe. “No! No what are you doing?! Don’t hurt him! Please, I’ll do anything!” I begged, continuing the fight to get free. Snow was also struggling to get to us, and Azar suddenly released me and I fell forward and was by Snow in a flash, who was starting to turn blue. Then, a question rang out loud and clear.
What do you do?
-Kill Azar and save Snow
or
-Take Snow back with you
I blinked and looked back at Snow, who fell to his knees.
“Choose Candice.” Azar said. I knew there wasn’t any time to think, and I pulled Snow into me and whispered in his ear. “I-I choose, to take you back with me.” There was a moment of silence, and then a brilliant white light blinded me. I no longer felt Snow in my arms, and it was as if I was floating. In the haze, I heard Azar’s voice. “One down, four to go.” And then everything faded to black.
