Cleanse me

The fridge-cold wine splashed all over the carpet as Dave took a sip, stumbling around his room. The dryness stuck to his throat. Kyu kept a cautious distance, tapping his paws uneasy. Guided by a faint glow of a computer screen, he felt his way through the darkness, finally reaching his chair. As he drank more, a manic laugh escaped him between sips, startling even himself.

He stared at an icon on the screen — a doorway to hell and his next destination. After a couple of miserable attempts to click on it, it finally launched. It was an MMORPG, more often used as a dating platform for outcasts than a place for gameplay.

The room filled with brightness as he appeared in the main city — a place where day never ended and white towers ruled, even at 4 am with barely anyone around. He observed a few individuals scattered around the area. One ran between the banker and the broker, another two clearly did their dating ritual, and the last one crouched in the corner.

Taking another swig from the bottle, he placed it on the desk with a loud thud and spun around in his chair. Then, his eyes fixed on the global chat. He pretended to crack his knuckles and started typing.

Seiyun: Yuneya is a crap heler
Seiyun: btw, have fun with ur new boy toi
Seiyun: cheater

Dizziness kicked in, and his mouth felt watery. His nose wrinkled as he swallowed and shook off the feeling. No one replied. He scanned the city square again, searching for the dating guys. A couple of laps around the main statue, behind the main building, in the alley, yet to no avail.

‘Where are you two? Papa Dave is here to give you some relationship advice.’

Then, a tiny blue-haired elf got in his way.

Seiyun: you saw the Rinder people?
Miira: the what?
Seiyun: they were just here, I am on a mission to absulve them of sins

The elf didn’t answer, just hopped towards the banker.

Seiyun: oi, where are u goin? dun leave me

She continued to distance herself from Dave while he followed.

Seiyun: I need your help. Can u cleanse mi soul?

Miira stopped and used ‘Cleanse’ on him.

Miira: Happy?
Seiyun: I have an idea. come with me
Miira: No. Find someone else to harass
Seiyun: No no, trust me. We’re goin on an adventure

Then he sent a friend request, which, after a good minute of contemplation, Miira accepted.

Miira: Fine. What do you want?
Seiyun: stay here, I will sumon you

Dave teleported to the starting area and summoned his new friend. It was a plain area with the basic green fields, a singular tent with a couple of NPCs, and ruins in the distance.

Miira: Okay. What are we doing here?
Seiyun: cleanse this.
Miira: Cleanse… what?
Seiyun: this fprsaken land.

The elf complied and rid the earth of… something.

Seiyun: ok, now wait, next
Miira: is this going to take long?

But Dave didn’t see the message, as he was already in the next area. It was a beautiful purple forest with massive tree roots forming arcs and new pathways. He rushed upon one root until he reached what looked like a chapel. Once again, Miira was summoned.

Seiyun: cleanse
Miira: this is a church. Does this really need… cleansing?
Seiyun: this is one of the worst places. It must be clensed

Another cleanse was complete. Off he went again. This time, to one of the major cities. The main quest often made you run back and forth and talk to an NPC in the great hall. He went there and settled under a ridiculously massive wooden table.

Miira: I REALLY hope this is helping you. Cuz you need help, my friend
Seiyun: very.
Miira: so what’s the story here?
Seiyun: very nasty things happened here. This of all places, needs most clensing. Very dirty. Awful. pls cleanse
Miira: better?
Seiyun: much! Next

Now he was back to where his night began, the town square.

Miira: that’s it?

Dave felt a heatwave take over him, then cold sweat. The saliva thinned and the metallic taste persisted. He stood to feel the world around him revolving. Holding onto the chair, he knew. He had to run. Now.

To the bathroom where he spilled his contents. He hugged the toilet dearly. With the world still majorly unstable, he got up, rinsed his mouth and generously gulped water.

But there was still a mission to complete. He went back to the PC and checked if Miira was still there. She sat next to him, waiting patiently.

Seiyun: I’m sorry. I felt sick and had to go to bathroom
Miira: Are you better now?
Seiyun: no.
Miira: are you drunk?
Seiyun: yup. First time.
Miira: Alright. So, are we done now?
Seiyun: No, this is the last place that needs a cleanse

Dave ran to the banker, where the previous guy had now disappeared.

Seiyun: here
Miira: what did the banker do?
Seiyun: he has seen things he shouldn’t have
Miira: I’m not even going to ask

And cleanse.

Miira: okay, I will be off now
Seiyun: wait, actually there’s one last thing
Miira: mhm?
Seiyun: cleanse me
Miira: we already did that. Remember?
Seiyun: did we? But this is different, I am prepared now
Miira: gosh, you’re working me hard

Finally, one last cleanse.

Seiyun: thank you, now I will never love again. Will never forget you, Mirri

Log out. 

***

He awoke feeling sick — really sick. His head throbbed, and his face felt slimy. A warm, moist, and smelly lick jolted him further into consciousness. Kyu, his loyal friend, lay beside him, or rather, almost on top of him. The clock showed 7:07 am.

‘You want to walk, bud?’

Still wobbly, he put on a fuzzy hoodie, slid into sneakers and out he went. It was still dark, but tiny halos of light illuminated his path forward. His breath appeared like ghostly puffs against the glowing backdrop. Wrapping his arms around himself, he crouched down, still half-asleep. Then the leash tugged. No reaction. Again, it pulled harder, making him open his eyes wide, but it was too late — he stumbled into tiny remnants of snow and dirt. Now he was wide awake.

‘I deserve this, don’t I?’

On all fours, he remained frozen, his face heating up. It contorted as he bit his lip, fighting to hold back whatever tried to escape from within. Kyu nose-bumped Dave’s head. No reaction. With an uneasy sigh, the Labrador took a seat beside him.

The mixture of dirt and snow became blurrier than ever.

‘I’m about to cry. I can’t even control this.’

It burst out, as he choked on incoherent words.

Just yesterday morning, things were normal. He felt okay, knew where he stood, what he wanted. He was full of love. Hope.