chapter 61

The cursor hovered over the Love and Deep Space icon on her laptop screen. Rose felt a strange sense of reluctance mixed with an overwhelming need to click. The dream had unsettled her, the raw emotions, the intensity, the deep connection to Sylus—it was all too real. She wasn't ready to dive back in, but at the same time, she couldn't resist the pull.

Her fingers hovered for a moment longer before she clicked, and the game's loading screen filled her vision, the familiar soft, ambient music playing in the background. As the world of Love and Deep Space materialized before her eyes, the tension in Rose's chest grew tighter. It wasn't just a game anymore. It was a window into something deeper—something she couldn't yet understand.

Sylus. His red eyes, the weight of his gaze, how they made her feel as if he could see straight through her. The kiss, the dream, it all felt like a direct continuation of something unfinished. Was it possible? Could the game have truly sensed their bond, even from the real world? Could it have manipulated her feelings to make her crave more? The thought made her stomach twist.

She was back in the game now, standing at the edge of the virtual world that had once felt like an escape. But now, it felt like a place where the lines between reality and fantasy were blurring. The once calm, controlled environment now felt more like a trap—a reflection of her growing confusion and desire.

As the game loaded, Rose was prompted to continue from where she left off. She didn't need to think twice. She clicked the 'Continue' button, and instantly, she was pulled into the familiar digital landscape of Onychinus—the dark, ominous city where Sylus ruled.

She hadn't expected him to be there. But there he was, standing at the edge of the rooftop, overlooking the city. His tall, imposing figure was bathed in the glow of the neon lights, and his red eyes seemed to glow with a dangerous intensity. Rose's heart skipped a beat. It was like nothing had changed, but everything was different.

Sylus turned toward her, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. He didn't speak at first. Instead, his eyes scanned her with an unreadable expression, as though weighing her very presence in this world.

"Back so soon?" His voice was smooth, almost teasing, but there was something beneath it—something deeper.

"I… I didn't expect to see you like this again," Rose admitted, her voice barely a whisper, even though she wasn't entirely sure why she was admitting it.

Sylus tilted his head, his lips curling slightly into a smirk. "I didn't think you would. But you're here, aren't you?"

"I was... I was thinking about what happened the other night. The dream," Rose confessed, her voice faltering as she looked away, embarrassed by the confession. "It felt too real."

"Dreams," Sylus muttered, stepping closer to her, his presence intimidating but strangely magnetic. "Sometimes they are more real than we realize."

Rose's heart raced. His words stirred something in her chest. Was he talking about the dream—or something more? She couldn't tell, but it felt like he was speaking in riddles, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.

"Do you ever wonder what's real, Rose?" Sylus continued, his eyes darkening, his voice lowering to a dangerous whisper. "Maybe this is all real. And maybe we've been living in a dream all along."

Rose swallowed hard. The words hit her like a punch. She wasn't sure if he was being metaphorical, or if he knew something about the bond between them that she didn't understand yet. The dream, the kiss, the overwhelming emotions—could they be a manifestation of something deeper? Something that transcended the boundaries of the game?

Before she could respond, a notification popped up on her screen, interrupting the intense moment.

Mission Update: Key Role — Discover Sylus's Hidden Past.

Rose's breath caught in her throat. She stared at the message, feeling an overwhelming sense of urgency. This wasn't just a typical mission. It was a direct challenge. Was this the game trying to push her closer to Sylus, to uncover more about him, about their connection? Or was this some twisted part of the game's design, a way to lure her deeper into a world where the rules were meant to be broken?

She looked back at Sylus, her mind racing. His eyes bore into hers, his expression unreadable, but there was something in his gaze that made her heart beat faster. It was as if he was waiting for her to make the next move, to decide whether she would accept the challenge—or walk away.

But walking away wasn't an option. Not anymore.

"I'm going to find out," Rose said, her voice firm as she stepped closer to him. "I'm going to find out the truth. About you. About this game. About everything."

Sylus's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "You always were persistent, Rose," he murmured. "Very well. Let's see how far you're willing to go."

As the game continued to unfold, Rose felt herself slipping deeper into a world she could no longer ignore. The boundaries between the game and reality had blurred, and there was no going back. Sylus was waiting for her, and she wasn't sure whether she was ready for what lay ahead. But one thing was clear—she couldn't resist the pull of this world, or the man who seemed to haunt both her dreams and reality.

---