Chapter 1 PlatypusHoller425

The only memory I have is that I got fired from work last night. I worked night shift at this company for almost a year. After my exit clearance, I went straight home. And for the first time, I went to bed without bothering to change my clothes or shower. I checked my phone. It’s 12:43 AM. I stared at the ceiling, worried and unsure how to process my devastating situation. Barely a month before my birthday, I’m unemployed. Is the term NEET even acceptable if you’re almost 42? I must have fallen asleep (or maybe I’m still deep asleep, and I'm having a nightmare!). Upon waking up, I saw nothing but stark darkness except for the suspiciously illuminated flights of stairs that receded into the distance. Beyond the surface bathed in dim light is definitely a gaping, stygian void. But which direction should I take?

Should I go up?

Or should I go down?

What if I just stayed on this landing? But I felt claustrophobic as time went by.

I walked around, careful not to step beyond the illuminated area. At this point, all I had were assumptions. I haven’t tried anything besides anxiously circling this tiny perimeter. Is this an escape room? Where the hell am I? Where are my memories? Did I— Am I dead? I tried so hard not to think of ‘who I even am’? I’d go bonkers once I’d entertain that line of thought.

What if it’s not a void but a wall?

With my right hand, I touched the darkness, probing what’s beyond this pitch-black surface—expecting and praying it to be a wall painted with such color.

I froze momentarily. There’s only emptiness—

Instinctively, I jerked my right hand away from the void! But it’s too late.

I’m horribly shocked at the outcome of my fearless curiosity (which only got the better of me). I screamed!

I screamed frantically at the top of my lungs, but I heard nothing of my voice. Haven't I noticed this deafening silence before?

Heaving, shaken, and beyond my wits' end, my eyes bulged in horror and disbelief at the horrific state of my right arm. Half of it was gone. That macabre darkness cleaved through my flesh and bone with a clean cut. Bloodless. Painless. The residual limb was covered with a pitch-black sheet, thus preventing the severed part from getting exposed.

I panicked and ran away from that landing.

I only stopped running when my legs got tired. The stairs seemed endless—in between catching my breath and frantic ideation of death—I realized that I had gone downstairs.

After a while, I have calmed down.

I resumed my descent because I have nowhere else to go. I’m scared of looking back from where I came. I even resented looking at my mangled arm. I just focused on the stairs ahead of me.

I don’t know how much time had passed. I just kept walking since that’s the only sensible thing I could do. I was ever careful not to step away from the illuminated area.

Until, finally, I reached the door. I felt relief. There’s hope! I straightened up and was overjoyed to have come this far. I twisted the knob to open the door when, suddenly, a pop-up window appeared.

What the f—? This reminds me of spammy pop-up windows on a monitor screen.

// Entry denied_

// Error 453 Missing Body Part_

What the hell is this?

I screamed while forcefully twisting the doorknob. It won’t badge.

// BZZZT

The pop-up window must have glitched since it produced a bzzzt sound and flickered.

F*ck this dream!

// Entry denied_

Let me out—

// Error 453 Missing Body Part - Void Glitch. Protocol Section 4: To uphold fairness and equality, no one is permitted to enter The Greensward if they have a missing body part as a result of the Void Glitch. To compensate, the Body Parts Retrieval Quest is offered. This generous offer must be accepted should the Otherworlder wish to enter the green field. [MORE INFO]_

// Otherworlder Appraisal [IN PROGRESS]_

I’m utterly confused. Shocked at this turn of events. I just stood there, left hand on the doorknob, mind buffering.

// Appraisal [FINISHED]_

// Otherworlder is eligible for Body Parts Retrieval Quest_

// Would you like to begin Body Parts Retrieval Quest?_

// [YES] [NO]

I let time pass.

Surely, this is a one f*cking prank. I slapped my face to get some sense into me, hoping it would force me to wake up from this nightmare. I stomped on the floor. I screamed. I slammed the door. And recited all the trashiest words I could remember. I went crazy—doing this and that—releasing my pent-up emotion.

Yet, I’m still here, stuck in a predicament.

As time passed and the crazy pent-up breakdown wore off, the realization hit hard: I’m trapped in these endless flights of stairs surrounded by darkness unless I make a choice.

What if I say no?

And then what? Same as that time I lost half my arm for a pinch of curiosity?

Stop overthinking! Yes is the answer to everything, right?

// [NO] was selected_

Goddammit! I was meant to press YES!

// I apologize for this inconvenience. While Error 453 is enforced, I regret to inform you that there’s no other available quest for you as of this time. [MORE INFO] [BACK TO QUEST]_

// [MORE INFO] selected_

You are one crappy program! Were you created by some cash-strapped indie developer? AI piece of sh*t? Is this a bullsh*t text-based RPG? Or f*cking what?

// Beyond this door is The Greensward, the greenest lawn where you can clearly see the magnificence of The Tower That Reaches The Sky. Here, you can be anyone you want to be. Everyone is invited, but only a few can enter. And even fewer can make it through each Blightenhorren. Therefore, it’s crucial that you are unaffected by the Void upon entering. [MORE INFO] [BACK TO QUEST]_

Screaming, I struck the door with my foot, giving an all-out final blow.

// BZZZT

Who f*cking reads the devil in the details? Dammit—

// [YES] selected_

// [Body Parts Retrieval Quest] assigned.

// Teleport [Hellstrip]_

// Quest begins in 3_

// 2_

// 1_

// Welcome, to Our World, [PlatypusHoller425]~