Curiosity

- "I hate you!"

- "You hate me for caring about you?"

- "..."

Ethan got silenced by his mom. Ever since the existence of the Arctica land has gone public, his adventurous, curious self couldn't get over his mom's restrictions. Up until now, every single soul that entered the land, was never seen again. No one knows what it looks like, no one knows where it is. People just make it public that they wanna go, and the next day they are gone. Because of the simple and fast process, over half of the population is gone. The world has turned over itself, and people are fighting over food, money, and other basic needs. People who are pregnant with babies are praised, as the population keeps decreasing. To put a stop to this, scientists worked all day long to invent new brain chips that restrict someone from deciding to go to Arctica. Criminals don't have this chip, and are kept in prison until they decide to go. The world is in big danger, and Ethan has the senses of a hero.

- "I'm going out, don't worry about me!"

- "JUST GET OF MY HOUSE! NOW!"

Ethan stormed angrily, holding back his tears. His mom has always been like this since his father's disappearance. Just like most of the world, he decided to go there. His family has just lost hope, just like every other family in the world.

Ethan went to his girlfriend, Sabrina. Her house is just right beside his house, so they hang out only so often. Ethan knocked on the door, filled with anger and frustration, ready to drain them out to Sabrina.

- "Who is it?"

- "I don't know", said Ethan while chuckling.

Sabrina immediately knew that it was him, and let him in. Ty sat together on the bed, and Ethan started sobbing. He dropped his happy act and complained: "I hate this. I hate that. I hate them. I hate this world, I hate that-"

- "STOP!", Sabrina silenced him.

- "Even you? Even YOU!? EVEN YOU HAVE TO SILENCE ME? EVERYONE IS TURNING ON ME. THE WORLD IS TURNING ON ME. I WISH I CAN DISAPPEAR INTO THE ARCTIC JUST LIKE MY DAD. HE IS PROBABLY IN A PLACE WITHOUT SUCH P-"

- "SHUT THE HELL UP! I HATE YOU! YOU ALWAYS COME TO ME AND ALL YOU DO IS COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, AND COMPLAIN! WILL YOU ACTUALLY LISTEN TO ME FOR A SECOND? WILL YOU ACTUALLY CARE TO KNOW WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH WHILE HEARING YOUR NAGGING ALL DAY? I LOVE YOU! I'VE ALWAYS DID! BUT YOU ARE GOING TOO FAR! THIS RELATIONSHIP HAS BECOME TOO TOXIC!"

-  "Oh."

- "..."

- "I'm sorry for screaming like that, I just had to let out everything imprisoned in my heart..."

- "Sorry what? I should be the one apologizing. All this time I have been selfish and only thinking about myself. I didn't even think about how others would feel when they hear what I say all day. How depressing it is to share my situations with them."

- "Look, just forget all this. I hate having to go through a fight. We need to find a way to repair our relationship. I don't really want us to leave each other."

Ethan thought of an idea. He always wanted to go to Arctica Land. It was always for the sake of an adventure. He thought to go with his girlfriend there, so that they can get along together in such a dangerous situation. They both talked it over and agreed with the idea. But they needed to crack the chips in their minds. They needed their hacker friend, Saland. He had nothing to do, just hacking random games all day in the dark and wondering what to do with his life. They went up to him and convinced him to help them with the chip problem. It's a VERY difficult mission for him, but he agreed to work on it if they let him go with them to the Arctic. He doesn't have better to do anyways.